Colored contacts — also known as cosmetic, decorative, or costume contacts — change how your eyes look. You can buy them with or without vision correction.
Wearing colored contacts may seem harmless. But beware: colored contact lenses can severely damage your eyes if you don’t buy them with a prescription. They can even cause permanent blindness if they’re not fitted by an eye specialist.
Non-Prescription Contact Lenses Are Dangerous — And Illegal
It is illegal to sell contact lenses without a prescription in the United States.
“Consumers need to know that permanent eye damage can occur from using non-prescription lenses,” says Thomas Steinemann, MD, an ophthalmologist at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, and member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “I have seen far too many serious cases in both children and adults from using decorative lenses.”
Is It Safe To Wear Non-Prescription Colored Contacts?
It is not safe to wear contact lenses that were not prescribed especially for you. This includes contact lenses purchased without a prescription and contact lenses prescribed for someone else. Your eyes are at risk of serious harm — and potentially blindness — when you wear contact lenses that were not prescribed specifically for you. Contact lenses advertised as ‘one size fits all’ or ‘no need to see an eye doctor’ are not safe. The ‘one size fits all’ claim is misleading and dangerous. Contact lenses must be tailored to each individual. Lenses that are not the correct size for your eye may result in serious harm and could destroy your vision.
Poorly fitting contact lenses can scratch your eye — or worse
corneal abrasions, corneal ulcers, and bacterial infections like keratitis, which are painful and potentially blinding.
Colored contacts also might let less oxygen through to the eye. This is because the paints and pigments make the lenses thicker and less breathable.
Treating this damage can require eye surgery like a corneal transplant. And treatment doesn’t always work. People have been blinded by colored contact lenses.
Eye infections from contact lenses can develop within hours:
Eye infections can become serious very quickly. Sometimes the damage is not reversible. Remove your lenses and see an ophthalmologist immediately if you have any of these symptoms:
- redness
- swelling
- excessive discharge
- pain or discomfort
Colored Contacts Harm Eyes Every Year
There are no comprehensive studies of how many injuries result from colored contact lenses. However, we hear from ophthalmologists that they diagnose and treat contact-related eye damage every year. The dangers of decorative contact lenses are shown in surveys of people who wear these lenses and surveys of eye professionals who treat eye problems caused by these lenses.
Here are a few examples:
- Costume contacts are popular, and often cause eye problems. A questionnaire completed by 686 women living in Texas revealed that 1 in 4 women reported using non-prescription contacts. Most of these women said they bought their contacts from unauthorized sources such as costume shops, salons, or novelty stores. About 60% of the wearers reported eye problems such as pain, itchiness, redness, and swelling. The rate of eye problems rose to 88% among women who had borrowed someone else’s lenses. Many of those with eye problems delayed seeking medical treatment, which further put their vision at risk.
- Young people are at greatest risk from eye damage from costume contacts. About 1 in 7 teens have used cosmetic contact lenses, according to an anonymous survey of 400 teens living in Texas. The lenses are more popular among girls than boys, the survey found, and most teens reported unsafe and non-hygienic behaviors — such as storing and cleaning the lenses in water — that put them at risk for serious eye infections and other problems.
- Eye infections are among the most common types of problems from decorative contact lenses. Bacteria are in about 60% of colored contacts purchased online without a prescription, according to the FDA’s analysis of 300 illegally sold lenses. And a 2016 survey of 4,548 adults and 1,618 teens in the United States found over 85% of teens and 88% of older adults who wore contacts reported at least one non-hygienic behavior that put them at risk for a serious eye infection.
If They’re So Dangerous, Why Can I Buy Colored Contacts Without a Prescription?
Retailers who sell colored contact lenses without requiring a prescription are breaking the law. In the U.S., it has been illegal to sell contact lenses without a prescription since 2005. Federal law classifies all contact lenses as medical devices. This law restricts their distribution to licensed eye care professionals. Illegal sale of contact lenses can result in civil penalties of prison time and fines of up to $200,000. If you see contact lenses being sold without a prescription, you can report the retailer to the FDA.
Illegally sold contacts bypass several crucial safeguards, including a professional lens fitting. They also don’t come with instructions about wear and care. These instructions should be specific to your eyes and your contacts. Dr. Steinemann also warns that counterfeit lenses are common if you’re buying through an illegal outlet. Some illegal lenses have even been re-packaged and can be contaminated.
How To Wear Colored Contacts Without Damaging Your Eyes:
- Get a contact lens prescription: The best way to ensure safety when using contact lenses is to get a prescription from an eye care professional. An ophthalmologist can examine your eyes to assess whether you are a good candidate for contacts. They will measure your eyes to properly fit contacts and offer safety tips to prevent infection. You will leave the exam with a prescription and the information needed to protect your eye health.
- Buy contact lenses from a reputable seller: Once you have a prescription, be careful about where you purchase the contact lenses. Don’t just buy from any website. Only buy contact lenses from retailers who require your prescription to purchase the lenses. Be sure the store only sells FDA-approved contacts.If you buy lenses that haven’t been FDA-approved or through a dealer who isn’t FDA regulated, you can’t be sure what you’re receiving. The lenses you get may not be what you ordered. They may not be clean, may not be correctly packaged and they may not be the right size or shape for your eye to begin with. The risks aren’t worth it.
- Follow instructions for wearing, cleaning, and storing your contact lenses: When you get a prescription from an eye professional, you will receive valuable information about using contact lenses safely. Follow these instructions for cleaning, wearing, and storing contact lenses every time to keep your eyes safe. Contact lenses are medical devices that require your commitment to proper wear and care. If not used safely, any type of contact lens (prescription or not) may lead to an eye infection.
Buying Colored Contacts? Play It Safe
- Get an eye exam from a licensed eye care professional. They will measure each eye and talk to you about proper contact lens care.
- Get a valid prescription that includes the brand name, lens measurements, and expiration date.
- Buy the colored contacts from a retailer who asks for a prescription.
- Follow the contact lens care directions for cleaning, disinfecting, and wearing the lenses.
- Never share contact lenses with another person.
- Get follow-up exams as directed by your eye care provider.
How to Report a Problem With Contact Lenses
If you have had a problem with colored contact lenses, report it to your local FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator.
