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Halloween is just around the corner! Many people plan to use decorative contact lenses to add extra flair to their costumes. While these lenses may look good, they might not be so good for your eyes.
Contact lenses are considered medical devices, and are regulated by the FDA. There is no such thing as a "one size fits all" contact lens. If you decide to use decorative contacts, you should first have an eye exam from an eye doctor, even if you think your vision is perfect. Your eye doctor will give you a prescription that includes the correction you need to improve your vision, and a measurement of the shape of the front of your eye. This measurement, called a k-reading, helps the optician find the type of contacts that will fit your eyes properly.
An improperly fitted set of contact lenses can cause many problems with your eyes. They can scratch your corneas, which is not only painful, but can leave permanent scars. These scars can leave you with decreased vision, making it difficult or impossible to read or drive. Poorly fitted contact lenses can also cause blood vessels to grow into your cornea, or cause your eyelids to droop.
Getting your contact lenses from a licensed professional means that your your lenses will fit your eyes properly, but there are even more benefits. When you have your first contact lens fitting, you will be shown the right way to put your contacts in and take them out. This dramatically decreases the chances of scratching your cornea.
You'll also learn how to take care of your contact lenses, including how to clean and disinfect them. This will greatly reduce your chances of getting an eye infection that could permanently damage your eyes.
Want to learn more? Visit EyeSmart to learn more about decorative contact lenses. | 
