Looking to buy cheap Halloween contacts to look like a favorite star in Twilight or simply to scare friends and family on October 31st? A quick online search will reveal a staggering range of scary designs printed onto contact lenses that can be worn by anyone whether or not they need lenses to correct vision.
This article offers advice on how much these colored contact lenses cost and where to buy lenses that have been approved for safe use by the FDA.
Wacky Contact Lenses
Think of a scary look and somewhere online there are wacky contact lenses to complete the perfect Halloween outfit. Prices, however, vary enormously from as little as $20 per pair to over $200 for an individual lens. The expensive options are usually contact lenses that are custom-made sclera lenses that cover the entire eye; the cheaper ones are normal size soft contacts that can be worn for up to 30 days either continuously or over a period of time.
Theatrical grade lenses are too expensive for many young people who want to wear wacky contacts to make a fashion statement and high demand has resulted in a glut of cheap online retailers offering colored cosmetic lenses as fashion accessories with zero vision correction. As a result, the FDA has issued strict guidelines for the manufacture of safe Halloween contact lenses to stop unsuspecting buyers buying inferior quality lenses that could harm the eyes.
Gothic Contact Lenses
FDA approved retailers and brands offering Halloween gothic contact lenses include the following:
- Wild Eyes brand contacts from Ciba Vision – available from AC Lens and priced at $57.95 per lens.
- Gothika brand Halloween contacts – available from ExtremeSFX and priced from $25.95 per lens.
- Vision Direct and Coastal Contacts offer a huge range of quality scary contacts from $29.50 to over $200 per lens for the best theatrical grade contacts.
Beware of cheap websites that only sell non prescription contacts called plano lenses that have zero power. Many sites set up purely to sell cheap Halloween contacts imply that no prescription is required if a person has perfect vision, but it is imperative that anyone planning to wear cheap cosmetic Halloween contacts visits an eye doctor to have the lenses fitted. The resulting “prescription” is one that confirms zero power for vision correction and the ideal size of contact lens that should be worn.
Contact Lenses and Dry Eyes
Colored contact lenses with wacky designs have a greater tendency to cause dry eyes as they are thicker than ordinary soft contacts. The color on the front of each lens is held in place between two layers of clear plastic film to stop any flakes of color adhering to the eye and this extra thickness acts as a barrier to the free passage of oxygen into the eye.
Many of the ultra cheap lenses on the market are made of even thicker plastic which can cause severe eye dryness, especially in a smoky environment or when heavy make-up is applied around the eyes. So anyone with extremely sensitive eyes may want to pay a little more for a higher quality thinner pair of Halloween contacts.
Buy Halloween Contact Lenses Online
Before buying cheap Halloween contact lenses online, check whether the company has FDA approval and if in doubt, whether the company recommends seeing an optician to obtain a prescription for both lens fitting and/or vision correction.
Read the related articles below for additional information on the potential risks of wearing fashion contact lenses before making a purchase based on price alone.
Prices quoted in this article correct as at July 2010.
Related Articles
- Buy Wacky Contact Lenses Direct to Save Money
- Buy Discount Contact Lenses Online
- Dangers of Wearing Halloween Contact Lenses with No Eye Prescription
Helen Smeaton - Helen Smeaton runs a cycling and hiking business and is also a freelance writer and web designer. Read her profile for more information
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