A pair of zombie or vampire contacts may elevate a Halloween costume, but these non-prescription lenses put your eyes at risk. It is illegal for brick-and-mortar and online retailers to sell these decorative contact lenses without a prescription.
These contacts can cause a number of eye issues, including an infection called pink eye. The infection is contagious and requires medication to cure it.
They’re a medical device
While contact lenses can enhance your appearance, they do come with some risks. Luckily, there are ways to minimize these risks by taking proper care of your contacts. These include washing your hands before touching them and wearing them only as your eye doctor prescribes. In addition, it’s important to follow a regular schedule for cleaning and storing your lenses. If you do not follow these guidelines, you may develop an infection that could be dangerous to your eyesight.
Decorative contact lenses come in a variety of colors and effects, including vampire eyes, deep violet eyes, and even the logos of your favorite sports teams. These nonprescription lenses are often sold at boutiques, beach shops, and tattoo parlors, as well as online. However, they pose serious health and safety risks. They can cause eye infections and blindness, especially when purchased from nonprofessional retailers. These retailers often violate the FDA’s Contact Lens Rule, which requires prescriptions for both eye doctors who prescribe contact lenses and retailers who sell them.
Your contact lens prescription will contain several details, including the type of lens and your ocular health history. It will also specify the power of your lens, which describes how much light-bending efficacy the lens has. This information is crucial to ensure that your contacts are properly inserted and removed from your eyes and that they fit your eye size. Incorrectly sized contacts can cut or scratch the cornea, leading to a serious, painful infection called ulcerative keratitis. This condition can scar the cornea and, in some cases, lead to permanent blindness.
Some people may be tempted to save money by purchasing contact lenses without a prescription. Nevertheless, visiting an eye care specialist for a comprehensive examination and a contact lens fitting is essential. The eye care specialist will evaluate your eyes and determine if contacts are right for you, and they’ll write you a prescription for the right type of contacts. Following the recommended routine for removing, disinfecting, and storing your contacts is also important. You should never share your contact lenses with others, as this increases your risk of eye infections exponentially.
They’re not for everyone
Incorrectly wearing, cleaning, and storing your contacts can lead to painful eye infections. In some cases, the infection can even blind you. It’s important to follow the recommendations from your eye care provider. This includes washing your hands before handling your contacts and never sleeping in them or swimming with them. It’s also a good idea to replace your contact lenses on a daily basis, based on their replacement schedule.
It’s also essential to avoid non-prescription decorative contacts. These are found in beauty supply stores and costume shops, and they are often falsely advertised as “one-size-fits-all” or as being “no prescription needed.” These lenses can cause serious damage to the cornea. One girl went blind in one eye after accidentally ripping her contact out during a party. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recently released a public service video called “No Prescription, No Way” highlighting these contacts’ dangers.
Despite these risks, contact lenses offer a variety of benefits. They can enhance your appearance by changing the color of your eyes. They’re also ideal for sports, dance, and other activities where glasses would be a hindrance. Contacts can reduce the glare of sunlight and sharp reflections from light sources, such as headlights.
You can get a contact lens prescription at your local eye doctor or optometrist. The process is quick and easy, and they will evaluate your eye health to determine if you can wear contacts. They will also help you select the best type of lenses for your needs.
Contact lenses can correct many vision problems, including nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia. Your prescription will contain information about the power and shape of your contact lenses. For example, a spherical cornea requires a “plano” (zero) prescription, while an irregularly shaped one may need toric or multifocal lenses. You will also need to know the size of your pupil, which is measured in millimeters. This number will be displayed in the “SPH,” “CYL,” and “Axis” columns of your prescription. Your optician will use these measurements to fit your contacts correctly.
They’re expensive
The main reason for the high cost of contact lenses is the fact that they are a medical device and must be fitted by an eye care professional. The doctor will take several measurements of your eyes, including the length and width of your pupils. These details are used to determine the correct lens shape for you. The correct shape is needed to ensure that the contacts stick to your tear film and don’t get dislodged when you blink.
In addition to determining your visual needs, the eye doctor will also assess your overall eye health. This is important because it allows the eye doctor to see if you are at risk of developing problems such as giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC), which causes redness, swelling, and small bumps on the inner corner of your eyelid. The doctor can help you manage GPC with medication, such as drops or ointments.
If you are considering buying contacts without a prescription, keep in mind that it is illegal to do so. Contact lenses are regulated by the Federal Drug Administration and require a prescription and proper fitting from an eye care professional. Many of the lenses sold online, in beauty salons, or in novelty shops are not FDA-approved and may be unsafe to wear. In the US, retailers who sell contact lenses without a prescription are breaking the law and could face fines for each violation.
Besides the risks mentioned above, non-prescription lenses can cause other health issues. For example, incorrectly wearing and caring for contacts can lead to infections such as pink eye. This can cause severe pain and blindness if left untreated. It is important to know that sharing contact lenses increases your risk of infection by 16 times. It’s also a good idea to avoid wearing contact lenses for longer than they are designed. This can cause corneal abrasions or ulcers and cut off eye oxygen.
If you are a contact lens wearer, make sure you get an annual checkup to monitor your eye health and vision. Your eye care professional will also give you advice on how to wear and take care of your contact lenses.
They’re easy to get
Contact lenses are thin pieces of plastic worn directly on the eye to correct vision problems. They are safe and convenient to wear but require regular and careful care to prevent complications. Regular cleaning, rinsing, disinfecting, and storing of your contacts will help you avoid eye infections. Contact lens solutions are specially formulated to protect your eyes from germs and debris. You should always use a commercially prepared and sterile solution available to most eyecare professionals.
If you are interested in buying contacts online, make sure that you get a prescription from an eye doctor before you shop. The prescription will ensure the lenses fit properly and meet your needs. It’s also important to choose a reliable website that will be around if you have any questions or issues with your order. Look for customer reviews and choose a retailer that offers free shipping and returns.
You should avoid purchasing contacts from a website that does not ask for a prescription, as this violates federal law. In addition, illegally sold contacts may not be sterile or clean and can cause severe eye health problems. Illegally purchased contact lenses can also scratch the clear front window of the eye, causing corneal ulcers or even blindness.
The FDA recommends washing and storing your contact lenses in fresh, sterile solutions daily. You should also remove your contacts before sleeping or showering. These steps can reduce your risk of infection and increase the lifespan of your contact lenses. You should also replace your lenses on a schedule prescribed by your eye doctor and always follow the instructions for storing your lenses.
Buying your contact lenses online is convenient, but knowing what you’re getting can be tricky. You can find great deals and discounts by shopping at larger retailers like 1-800 Contacts and Walgreens. You can also save money by buying your contacts in bulk and ordering a six-month supply. However, be aware that your prescription might change before you have enough contacts to use them all.
It is also important to note that despite being advertised as disposable, extended-wear contact lenses should only be worn for up to two weeks or a month at a time. Leaving them in for longer periods increases the risk of infection and other health risks.
