Health warnings issued over ‘dangerous’ Halloween contact lenses

Wearing decorative lenses could cause eye scratches, infections and even blindness, health experts have warned.

The advice came ahead of this year’s Halloween celebrations, when the lenses are often worn by partygoers.

But despite looking impressively spooky, the lenses could be doing serious damage to your eyes.

Last year, 16-year-old Leah Carpenter went partially blind in her right eye after damaging her cornea wearing “zombie lenses”.

The lenses are widely available in the UK, and can be found for a little as £6 a pair.

Daniel Hardiman-McCartney, clinical adviser for the College of Optometrists, said: “Most people think that you don’t need the same level of care when using novelty contact lenses as you do with ordinary contact lenses, because they don’t have a prescription.

The lens are popular at Halloween (Rex Features)

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“But, even when purchased from a reputable outlet, the issue isn’t with the lenses themselves, but with how people use them.

“Fancy dress lenses are often purchased by people who do not wear contacts regularly and who may not know how to handle and care for them safely.

“It is absolutely vital for the health of your eye that you are able to remove and insert your contact lenses safely, know how to keep them sterile, and have been instructed on how to do so by an optometrist.”

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the non-prescription lenses can increase the risk of an infection called keratitis by 16 times.

The AAO’s findings were supported by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates the sale of contact lenses.

Joel Silbert, professor of optometric medicine at Salus University in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania told The Inquirer: “The complications can be quite serious. Is going blind worth it?”

“You’ll not only have a horrible, painful experience but you can also lose your vision permanently,” said Silbert.

“My feeling is you should avoid them entirely.”

(Credit: Rex Features)