OPTICIANS COUNCIL OF CANADA WARNS AGAINST
PURCHASING COSMETIC CONTACT LENSES FROM A NONLICENSED PROFESSIONAL.
When it comes to Halloween safety, parents may consider their kids’ costumes and whether to attach
reflectors, checking candy is appropriately wrapped and safe to eat, but what about their eyes? All
consumers should know that it’s and increase of eye injuries has been reported around Halloween.
Common areas of eye injuries at Halloween are makeup related, costume related and contact lens related.
Although non-prescription cosmetic contact lenses appear to be innocuous and amusing, they carry the
same risk factors as a prescription contact lens if the individual is not properly fitted and educated on
contact lens wear and maintenance of ocular health by a licensed eye care professional. The Alberta
Opticians Association won an injunction against London Drugs, a chain of pharmacies operating in British
Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, from selling these lenses in their Alberta outlets in 2003.
Contact lenses are not ‘one size fits all’ and there is a whole range of ocular problems associated with
improperly fitting lenses. Based on many cases reported by eye care professionals, severe eye infections
have been reported in as little as 24 hours of wear time. Consumers need to know that there is a great deal
of maturity, responsibility and awareness required with contact lens wear whether they are used for vision
correction or not.
Tips for parents and consumers regarding non-prescription cosmetic contact lenses for Halloween:
Seek an eye care professional who will provide you with a proper contact lens assessment.
When wearing contact lenses that do not fit properly, there is large scope of potential eye problems
that can arise ranging from mild redness, irritation, blurred vision, all the way up to severe corneal
ulcers.
Never wear lenses that are torn or discoloured. Contact lenses need to be inspected to make sure
that they are safe to wear. Cosmetic con