Experts for a contact lens brand are warning Halloween party goers about the dangers of wearing novelty contacts.
According to Feel Good Contacts, contact lenses should only be bought with an optician’s prescription, and it is illegal for them to be sold without one.
The warning comes after Geordie Shore's Marnie Simpson was banned from promoting coloured contact lenses after advertising watchdogs deemed them 'unsafe'.
She was promoting a range of zero powered cosmetic lenses which are being sold without the supervision of an eye care practitioner, according to Feel Good Contacts.
Ashish Mathur, Eye Care Expert at Feel Good Contacts warned “Whilst we want Halloween to be a memorable evening, we want it to be unforgettable for the right reasons and are warning consumers of the dangers of buying costume lenses without a prescription.
"Contact lenses are medical devices and should only be purchased with an optician’s prescription. In fact, it’s illegal to buy contact lenses without one.
"Even if you don’t need any vision correction, you still need to visit an optician to ensure that contact lenses are suitable for your eyes.”
“We recommend that before buying your contact lenses you visit your eye care practitioner for a check-up, regardless of whether you are buying cosmetic lenses with or without powers.
"It is advisable that you avoid buying them from street vendors, salons, beauty supply stores, boutiques, flea markets, novelty stores, Halloween stores, convenience stores or untrustworthy internet retailers.
"These outlets may not abide by the same safety standards and regulations as a reputable contact lens retailer.
"When purchasing contact lenses from non-optical establishments, you could be putting your eyes at risk of a long list of eye-related conditions, including but not limited to; corneal infection, scratches on the cornea, conjunctivitis and reduced visual acuity."
