Halloween nightmares. They usually consist of psychotic killers, bloodied corpses or a world that is taken control by flesh-craving dead relatives. But Ohio State optometrists warn of another potentially sinister evil: costume contact lenses.
Nicky Lai, clinical coordinator of optometry at the Wilce Student Health Center, said wearing lenses without a prescription could cause serious damage to the eyes, including scratching of the eye, infection, redness, light sensitivity and blurred vision. In serious cases, an untreated infection can develop into an ulcer and lead to a permanent loss of vision if not treated, he said.
"The eyes are very sensitive," Lai said. "The problem lies in the fact that students don't know how to care for it (the lenses) and don't use proper solution to clean it."
He warned that using tap water instead of cleaning solution is especially dangerous because tap water contains tiny bugs and bacteria, which can cause infection.
Eye screenings, such as those performed at Wilce center, take into account proper fit of the lens. Without a proper fit, the contact lens can move or be too tight of a fit around the eye, Lai said.
Carla Mack, director of clinical optometry services and associate professor of clinical optometry, warned that a student's knowledge of general eye care is especially important, even for students using costume lenses.
"You can harm yourself by trying to apply the lenses or when taking out the lens. Contact your eye-care provider so you understand and get the education to remove, put in the lens and know proper eye care," said Mack, who is also the editor of "Contact Lens Spectrum" and "Contact Lenses Today."
Tom Knox, a junior in journalism, said he would not use the costume lenses for "the few hours of fun and realism that these contacts provide" because the possibility of agitating or injuring his eyes would not be worth it.
"If you are not familiar with how contacts should be properly worn, then it's a better idea to not wear them at all," Knox said.
Lai said the clinic usually sees 25 to 30 students per day for regular contact lens and glasses screenings, but sees less than "half a dozen a year" for special occasions such as Halloween.
He said the difference between contact lenses and costume lenses is that costume lenses change the color of the eye and usually have designs. Costume lenses should only be prescribed by a licensed optometrist but are available at several smaller stores.
According to an American Optometric Association statement issued earlier this month, the lenses are found at flea markets, on Internet sites, at beauty salons, at convenience stores and at small retail outlets where it is marketed as a fashion accessory.
Since 1995, the Food and Drug Administration has classified all contact lenses, including costume lenses, as medical devices, making it illegal to sell any lenses without a prescription, Mack said. The lenses are especially popular around Halloween as enhancements to costumes, but students should still have screenings to assure the lenses are properly fitted to their eyes, Mack said.
"I think the lenses are a novel idea but that they are probably unnecessary as an accessory to a costume because most people will be drunk quickly and would forget you wore the contacts anyway," Knox said.
Jenna McGuire can be reached at mcguire.165@osu.edu.
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