Are Colored Contacts Safe? Eye Doctors Share The Truth

Colored contact lenses might look fashionable, but are they safe for your eyes? The FDA classifies these lenses as medical devices, making their sale without a prescription illegal. This regulation exists and with good reason too. Eye health data shows that more than 80% of contact lens users skip steps in their hygiene routines. These shortcuts increase their risk of eye infections and damage by a lot.

Most people don't know that poorly fitted colored contacts can harm their eyes severely. A recent case study shows how a woman's vision suffered lasting damage after wearing illegal colored lenses for just 10 hours. The safety of your vision is a vital concern, whether you use colored contacts now or plan to wear them soon. This piece explains how to wear colored contact lenses safely and helps you avoid risks that could threaten your eyesight.

What are colored contact lenses?

Colored contact lenses have gained huge popularity among people who want to change or boost their eye color. Essentially, these are specially designed lenses that alter the appearance of your iris – the colored part of your eye surrounding the pupil. Standard contacts only correct vision, but colored contacts serve both cosmetic and corrective purposes.

Types of colored contacts: prescription vs decorative

Colored contacts come in two main categories based on what they do:

Prescription colored contacts mix vision correction with esthetic benefits. These lenses fix refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism while changing your eye color. They're ideal if you wear contacts and want better vision along with a new eye color.

Decorative colored contacts (also called plano, cosmetic, or non-prescription contacts) don't correct vision at all. People use them just to change how their eyes look. Keep in mind that even though these lenses don't fix vision problems, the FDA still classifies them as medical devices. You'll need a proper prescription and fitting from an eye doctor, whatever your vision needs.

These decorative lenses also go by other names in stores – Halloween contacts, theatrical lenses, costume lenses, or circle lenses. They serve a purely cosmetic purpose rather than a functional one.

How colored contacts change your eye appearance

Colored contacts cover your iris with a colored film but leave the center clear so you can see normally. Most designs create a natural iris look by using tiny colored dots and radial lines.

You'll find three main types of tints in these lenses, each changing your eye color differently:

• Visibility tints – These have a light blue or green tint that helps you see the lens when you put them in or take them out. The tints are so light they won't change your eye color much.

• Enhancement tints – These see-through tints make your natural eye color more intense instead of changing it completely. Light-eyed people love these tints to deepen their natural color.

• Opaque tints – These solid tints cover your natural eye color completely, letting you make dramatic changes. Dark-eyed people need these tints to switch to blue, green, or violet.

Theatrical or costume contacts belong to the opaque category. Movie makers use them for special effects, and they're popular at costume parties. You can find unique designs from cat eyes to vampire looks.

Your perfect color choice depends on your hair color, skin tone, and what look you want. Light-eyed people can use enhancement tints for subtle changes. Dark-eyed people need opaque tints for complete color changes.

Note that all colored contacts need a proper prescription and fitting by an eye care professional. This rule applies even to non-prescription lenses to make sure they fit right and won't hurt your eyes.

Are colored contacts safe to wear?

The reality about colored contacts goes beyond their role as fashion accessories. These are regulated medical devices that need proper supervision. They can be completely safe with correct usage, but protecting your eye health depends on understanding the legal and medical requirements.

Why a prescription is always required

Getting a prescription for colored contacts isn't just paperwork—it's a legal requirement that protects your vision. Your eye doctor must measure each eye to properly fit these lenses and assess how your eyes respond to contact lens wear. Serious eye damage can occur without a proper fit, including corneal scratches, infections, and vision problems.

Your eye examination lets your doctor:

• Check if contact lenses are right for you

• Get exact measurements of your eye shape

• Choose the best lens material for your eyes

• Show you the right way to clean and care for your lenses

In stark comparison to this, some retailers claim their contacts are "one-size-fits-all." This dangerous misconception can seriously damage your vision.

FDA classification and medical device status

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies all contact lenses—colored and decorative ones included—as medical devices. This classification exists because of what it all means if these products are used incorrectly.

These lenses must pass strict testing and receive FDA clearance before hitting the market. On top of that, it has been federal law since 2005 that all contact lenses are medical devices, and only licensed eye care professionals can distribute them.

Breaking these rules comes with harsh penalties. Sellers who offer colored contacts without requiring prescriptions face federal charges, including jail time and fines up to $200,000. These penalties show how seriously regulators take eye safety.

Is it safe to wear colored contacts without vision correction?

You can safely wear colored contacts without vision correction—but you need a valid prescription. These non-corrective lenses (or "plano" lenses) need the same professional oversight as prescription ones.

Your eyes face similar risks whether the contacts fix your vision or just change your eye color. FDA analysis of 300 illegally sold lenses found bacteria in about 60% of colored contacts bought online without prescriptions. A 2016 survey showed that all but one of these teens (85%) and adults (88%) who wore contacts had at least one unsafe habit that raised their risk of serious eye infection.

Wearing non-prescription colored contacts can lead to:

• Corneal abrasions and ulcers

• Serious bacterial infections

• Keratitis (inflammation of the cornea)

• Allergic reactions to lens dyes

• Impaired vision

• Blindness in worst cases

These non-prescription colored contacts pose extra risks because of their makeup. The lenses are usually thicker, harder, and let less oxygen through than regular contacts. The dyes and patterns can also create rough spots on the lens's inner surface that might scratch your eye.

Stay safe by buying colored contacts only from FDA-approved sellers who check your prescription. Note that costume shops, beauty supply stores, and online vendors selling contacts without prescriptions break the law—and might permanently damage your vision.

Risks of using non-prescription colored contacts

Non-prescription colored contacts are dangerous beyond just causing discomfort. Medical evidence shows these products can cause severe eye trauma and permanent vision damage. Research and documented cases highlight why proper prescription and fitting are essential.

Corneal abrasions and ulcers

The cornea—the clear dome covering the colored part of your eye—needs special care. Poorly fitted colored contacts can scratch this outer layer, creating what doctors call corneal abrasions. These painful scratches cause several symptoms:

• Sore, red eyes

• Light sensitivity

• Eye discharge

• Feeling like something is stuck in your eye

These abrasions create openings for bacteria to enter. Without treatment, they can develop into corneal ulcers that appear as white dots on your iris. These open sores on your cornea need immediate treatment with antibiotic eye drops. Healed ulcers often leave scars that affect vision permanently. The damage can be so severe that patients need corneal transplants to see again.

Eye infections and keratitis

Bacteria, viruses, and amoebas grow easily on dirty or poorly fitted contact lenses. Keratitis—inflammation of the cornea—is the most common infection from contact lenses and can threaten your vision.

A 2011 study revealed that colored contact wearers were 16 times more likely to develop keratitis than regular contact lens users. This is a big deal as it means that the risk comes in part from the materials used in colored lenses, which are thicker, more rigid, and less breathable than regular contacts.

Many bacteria resist common antibiotic eye drops, which makes some infections harder to treat. Bacterial infections spread faster—sometimes causing ulcers or blindness within 24 hours without prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Vision loss and long-term damage

The chemicals in non-prescription tinted lenses include chlorine and other substances toxic to human tissue. These harmful components can leak into your eye and lead to vision loss.

Severe cases require intensive care. A patient needed antibiotic eye drops every hour around the clock and said: "I couldn't sleep and was really anxious that I would lose my vision". Even after hospital treatment, corneal ulcers affected her daily life: "I couldn't drive or use a computer, but I could at least open my eyes and be with my children".

These non-prescribed contact lenses can lead to additional vision-threatening conditions like cataracts and secondary glaucoma. Some patients need eye surgery to restore vision or save their remaining sight.

A 36-year-old mother learned this the hard way after trying new colored contacts. She felt severe pain and blurred vision just four hours after putting them in. Her symptoms got worse overnight even after removing the lenses. She ended up in the hospital with "significant visual impairment" and "severe corneal inflammation accompanied by multiple corneal ulcers".

How to wear colored contacts safely

Safety with colored contacts depends on professional guidance and good care habits. These practices will protect your eyes from harm while you enjoy your new eye color.

Get a proper eye exam and fitting

A visit to the eye doctor is a vital first step to wearing colored contacts safely. An optometrist must measure your eyes for proper lens fit, even if you have perfect vision. The exam checks your cornea's curve, your iris and pupil size, and your overall eye health. Lenses that don't fit well can scratch your cornea and lead to infections. The exam will also show if contacts are right for you.

Follow hygiene and care instructions

Clean hands matter most for contact lens safety. You must wash and dry your hands really well before touching your lenses. For reusable colored contacts:

• Clean and disinfect lenses with fresh solution daily

• Replace your lens case every three months

• Never sleep, swim, or shower with contacts

• Replace contacts on schedule (daily, monthly, etc.)

Take your contacts out right away if you notice discomfort, redness, eye pain, or blurred vision. Call your eye doctor immediately after.

Avoid using tap water or expired solution

Tap water has microorganisms like Acanthamoeba, a dangerous organism that can cause bad eye infections. This parasite lives in tap water, lake water, and well water. Never rinse your lenses or case with water. Old contact solutions lose their germ-killing power over time. This allows bacteria and fungi to grow on your lenses. Fresh, unexpired solution is a must for cleaning and storing your contacts.

Never share your lenses

Sharing contact lenses puts you at high risk of serious eye infections. Your contacts are prescribed for your eye's unique shape. These medical devices are fitted just for your eyes and won't work for anyone else. Just like you wouldn't share your toothbrush, keep your colored contacts to yourself - even with close friends or family.

Buying safe colored contacts: what to look for

Buying colored contacts needs more care than picking up regular fashion accessories. Your eye health depends on getting them from legal and safe sources. Federal law treats all contact lenses as medical devices, which makes proper sourcing a vital part of protecting your eyes.

Only buy from FDA-approved sellers

The Myeyebb collection of colored contact lenses is designed with safety and quality as top priorities. All of our lenses are manufactured to meet strict standards for material safety, design, and production—fully compliant with FDA regulations.

While shopping for colored contacts, always ensure you're choosing lenses from trusted, FDA-cleared sources like Myeyebb. Our lenses are crafted with precision and have undergone rigorous testing to ensure long-term comfort and eye health.

Avoid costume shops and online vendors without prescriptions

Stay away from Halloween stores, beauty supply shops, flea markets, and novelty stores that sell colored contacts. U.S. law has made it illegal to sell any contact lenses without a prescription since 2005. Retailers who break this law face tough penalties - up to $200,000 in fines and possible jail time.

Online retailers who don't ask for prescriptions often sell fake or contaminated products that can harm your eyes. The money you save is nowhere near worth the risk to your health.

Check for prescription verification

Good retailers will verify your prescription before selling you contacts. The verification process works in two ways:

1. You upload a valid copy of your prescription directly to the retailer

2. You provide your eye doctor's contact information for the retailer to verify

This verification isn't just paperwork - it's required by the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumer Act. Any seller that skips prescription verification breaks the law. FDA-approved colored contacts are safe to wear when you get them from authorized sources.

Conclusion

Conclusion

Colored contacts are without doubt exciting ways to revolutionize your appearance. But your eye's health should always come before esthetic desires. These lenses might look like simple fashion accessories, yet they remain medical devices that need proper supervision and care.

You just need a prescription from an eye doctor for all colored contacts—whether they're for vision correction or purely cosmetic purposes. This rule exists to protect you from serious complications like corneal abrasions, ulcers, and infections that could lead to blindness.

It also becomes vital to maintain strict hygiene once you have properly fitted lenses. Clean hands, fresh solution, and following your eye doctor's instructions will reduce your risk of complications by a lot. Never share your lenses with friends or family, whatever the temptation might be.

Numbers tell the real story—people wearing non-prescription colored contacts are 16 times more likely to develop keratitis than those with proper lenses. No temporary change in eye color is worth permanent vision damage.

Buying contacts from FDA-approved sellers who check prescriptions will give you safe, properly manufactured lenses. Buying from costume shops or online vendors that skip prescription checks not only breaks federal law but puts your precious vision at risk.

Colored contacts can be both safe and fun if used the right way. The difference between an enjoyable experience and a potential emergency room visit lies in following proper protocols. Your vision can't be replaced—protect it by making smart, careful choices about colored contacts.