FDA says Halloween contact lenses illegal without a prescription

The following is from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

The scary eyeball

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Just in time for Halloween: Vampire eyes. Blood red demon eyes. And they're contact lenses – just for show, not necessarily to correct vision.

But at the National Eye Institute, Dr. Rachel Bishop says people should not get even such decorative contacts until they've seen an eye specialist, gotten a prescription, and learned how to care for them:

"Taking shortcuts and buying these without getting an eye exam, without being instructed on the placement and removal of lenses, and the care of the lenses, places a person at significant risk."

The risks range from irritated red eyes to permanent vision loss.

The Food and Drug Administration says even decorative lenses are prescription, so over-the-counter sales are illegal.