Halloween is a time for creativity and costumes — but when it comes to your eyes, safety should always come first. As of 2025, the American Optometric Association (AOA) and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), agree that wearing unprescribed decorative contact lenses poses serious health risks that can lead to infection, corneal ulcers, and even permanent vision loss.
The Risk Behind the Look
The AOA’s American Eye-Q® survey found that over a quarter of Americans who have worn decorative contact lenses purchased them without a prescription. Many of these lenses come from unregulated sources — gas stations, beauty shops, and online retailers — which do not meet FDA safety standards for medical devices.
Because all contact lenses are classified as medical devices by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they legally require a valid prescription and proper fitting by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Wearing lenses without professional supervision can lead to bacterial infections, allergic reactions, and painful conditions like corneal ulcers that can result in permanent vision loss.
“Decorative contact lenses may seem like a fun accessory, but if you’re not careful, they can cause serious eye and vision problems,” warns the AOA.
Top 3 Tips for Safe Halloween Lens Wear
Always get a prescription. Even if the lenses are purely cosmetic, an optometrist must measure your eyes and ensure the lenses fit properly and that there is no existing pathology that can worsen through the use of contact lenses.
Never share contact lenses. Sharing lenses spreads bacteria and germs that can cause infections.
Remove lenses before sleeping. Sleeping in decorative lenses deprives your corneas of oxygen and increases the risk of serious eye infections.
The Bigger Picture
Eye care experts emphasize that decorative lenses are not “one-size-fits-all.” Proper fit, hygiene, and follow-up care are essential to avoid complications. The AOA’s “Eye Deserve More” public health campaign reminds patients that comprehensive, in-person eye exams are the only way to protect vision — even when using decorative or cosmetic lenses.
For more information about safe contact lens wear, visit:
🔗 www.aoa.org/contact-lenses
Bibliography (MLA Format)
American Optometric Association. Patients Beware: Buying Decorative Halloween Contact Lenses without a Prescription Is Risky. AOA, 2018.
American Optometric Association. “Contact Lenses.” AOA.org, https://www.aoa.org/contact-lenses.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Contact Lenses and Eye Infections.” CDC Vision Health Initiative, https://www.cdc.gov/contactlenses.
American Academy of Ophthalmology. “Halloween Contact Lenses Can Cause Lasting Eye Damage.” AAO.org, https://www.aao.org/eye-health/news/halloween-contact-lenses
