Protect Your Eyes from Spooky Contact Lenses
Decorative contact lenses have grown in popularity as a way to change one’s eye color, shape or to create a spooky look for Halloween. These lenses are available at many locations including retail stores and internet sellers. However, while these decorative lenses may look innocent enough, they can do real harm to your vision and eyes. Here are some ways that these festive looking items can cause lasting damage.
Failure of Contact Lens Fit
One of the biggest issues with wearing decorative contact lenses is that they rarely fit properly. Many of these lenses are sold as a one-size-fits-all solution. However, as any eye doctor will tell you, there is no such thing. When prescribing contact lenses to an individual, an ophthalmologist or optometrist must carefully measure each eye achieve the proper contact lens fit. They must also evaluate how an individual’s eye responds to the lens when determining a style and brand. If the lens is the wrong size, or just fits improperly, serious eye damage can occur.
Some of the negative effects of improper contact lens fit include the following:
- Cornea Scratches
- Corneal Infection
- Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
- Decreased Vision
- Possible Blindness
Lack of Proper Contact Lens Care
Another area that can lead to eye infections and vision damage is the lack of information on contact lens care. Many of these are sold without a prescription and provide few or no instructions on daily cleaning and disinfecting. When proper care is not taken, bacterial infections can occur in as little as 24 hours. Decorative lenses are still a medical device that requires specialized care in order to be worn safely.
Have you ever worn decorative contact lenses? If so, we would love to hear about your experiences with them. Our office can also provide prescriptions for decorative lenses to ensure that you achieve the best fit as well as the best look.
Carolina Vision Care Strongly Urges Consumers to Consider These Risk Factors When Wearing Decorative Contact Lenses.