The results can be horrific.
CORU, Ireland’s multi-profession health regulator who are responsible for regulating the sale of contact lenses in Ireland, have issued a warning about the dangers of wearing novelty contact lenses this Halloween.
CORU has previously taken legal action, including prosecution, against retailers for selling novelty contact lens products.
There are many risks associated with the wearing of ill-fitting, poor quality contact lenses and these include:
1. Common Problems: Unsupervised contact lens use can lead to a range of problems, which include: red, sore, gritty eyes, dry eye, sensitivity to light, headaches, blurred vision and again in extreme cases reduction in best visual acuity.
2. Incorrect base curve: If the lens is too flat it can feel very uncomfortable, cause variable vision or even fall out. If it is too steep it could cause stagnation of the tears and reduce oxygen to part of your eye, this can cause redness and swelling. If it is very steep it can become very difficult to remove and increase the risk of damaging the eye upon removal.
3. Reduced Vision: Halloween favourites like the cat’s eyes or blackout lenses can reduce the peripheral vision affecting mobility, depth perception and balance and would make driving extremely dangerous. Often the packaging contains no warning of these dangers.
4. Severe infections: Many people will not use appropriate solutions to moisten their lenses; sometimes they even use tap water or saliva to do this. This dramatically increases the risk of infections which can include bacterial conjunctivitis or a devastating condition called Acanthamoeba keratitis. Acanthamoeba is an organism commonly found in tap water and hot tubs. It causes an infection which can lead to permanent visual impairment or in the worst cases blindness.
Peter McGrath, Chair of the Optical Registration Board at CORU, has appealed to parents and young people in particular to be aware of the dangers of these products.
“We are strongly urging people not to use novelty contact lenses this Halloween, and indeed to never use these very dangerous products. While they may look scary in photos the reality is they are scary for a whole range of other reasons, which includes the potential for lifelong damage to your eye health. We are particularly appealing to parents to not allow children wear novelty contact lenses and advise any older children about their extreme danger.”
“Contact lenses are a medical device and must only ever be used with a valid prescription. The only person qualified to provide a prescription of contact lenses is a CORU registered optometrist or dispensing optician or a doctor. In fact, if anyone else sells you contact lenses they are breaking the law.”
If members of the public see novelty contact lenses for sale they are asked to contact CORU immediately.
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