One of the more impressive ways to look scary for Halloween is to wear some crazy decorative contact lenses. But be careful. They might sound harmless, but serious eye damage can occur if they are not used correctly.

QUESTION: Are decorative contact lenses regulated like contacts used for vision correction?

ANSWER: Even though decorative contacts are used cosmetically and generally are not used to correct vision, they are considered medical devices. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates them because any contact lens can cause serious eye damage when used improperly.

FDA has teamed up with the American Optometric Association and the Entertainment Industries Council to inform consumers about the potential risks of decorative contact lenses. Teens and young adults are particularly prone to misuse, causing eye damage. The Entertainment Industries Council is involved because of the influential role it has played in using decorative contacts cosmetically in movie characters.

Q: Have people been harmed by using decorative contacts?

A: Many people have suffered eye injuries during past Halloween seasons from wearing decorative contact lenses. They even have caused blindness. Due to the potential for permanent eye damage, even experienced contact lens wearers should have a prescription for these decorative lenses, and decorative contacts should be purchased only from licensed providers.

Q: Are decorative contact lenses available without a prescription?

A: Unfortunately, these lenses are sold illegally to people without prescriptions. For legal sale the purchaser is required to have a valid prescription from a licensed eye care professional prior to sale. The FDA has taken significant steps to crack down on illegal sales of decorative contact lenses, but illegal marketing is likely to peak right before Halloween.

Q: What should be done if eyes are adversely affected by nonprescription lenses?

A: If red and painful eyes or impaired vision occurs and doesn’t clear up in a short time, it’s important to seek immediate medical attention. A serious infection can even lead to blindness, especially if it is not treated in a timely fashion. Illegal sales of contacts can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission online.

Here are tips for safe use of decorative contact lenses provided by the FDA:

» Get an eye exam from a licensed eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist), even if you think your vision is perfect.

» Get a valid prescription that includes the brand name, lens measurements and an expiration date. But don’t expect your eye doctor to prescribe anime, or circle, lenses. These bigger-than-normal lenses that give the wearer a wide-eyed, doll-like look have not been approved by the FDA.

» Buy the lenses from a seller that requires you to provide a prescription, whether you shop in person or online.

» Follow directions for cleaning, disinfecting and wearing the lenses, and visit your eye doctor for follow-up eye exams.

» See your eye doctor right away if you have signs of possible eye infection, such as redness, eye pain that doesn’t go away after a short time, or a decrease in vision.

Alan Titchenal, Ph.D., C.N.S., and Joannie Dobbs, Ph.D., C.N.S., are nutritionists in the Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii-Manoa. Dobbs also works with University Health Services.