Episode 2: Halloween contact lenses

Image sources: Spooky Eyes, CDC

“ Your eyes might look like a lizard’s for an evening, but the risk of permanent vision loss may not be worth the temporary thrill.”

— Your eye doctor

What are Halloween/costume contact lenses
What classification does contact lenses fall under FDA regulations
What is a FDA approved/cleared costume contact lenses you can prescribe to your patients
Complications that may arise from patients using non-FDA approved contact lenses
Brief review of treatment options
What you should recommend to your patients who can’t follow directions
How to handle when a patient asks you to prescribe them costume contact lenses

This 2018 study found over 85% of people wearing contacts had at least one behavior putting them at risk for a serious contact lens–related eye infection.
Where to look up whether a contact lens is FDA approved: FDA Device Listing
- This database includes:
  - medical device manufacturers registered with FDA
  - medical devices listed with FDA
- For example, here’s a search on Gothika, an FDA approved costume contact lens:

You can report:

Adverse events including contact lens related infections or potentially counterfeit products
- FDA Medwatch
Unlawful internet sales or contact lens vendors selling without a prescription
- Report a Problem Web Form
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Complaint Assistant
Emails promoting medical products that might be illegal
- FDA Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) Web complaints
  - Email webcomplaints@ora.fda.org
Allegations that a medical device manufacturer or its product is in violation of the law
- Allegations of Regulatory Misconduct Web Form

To share your thoughts:

To help out the show:

Ep 2: Halloween Contact Lenses