Warning: Adding colored contacts to Halloween costume could haunt you

Going all out for your Halloween costume this year could have you seeing red.

News Center 7's James Rider reports that doctors are warning of the potential problems with colored contact lenses, and why going for the red eye look of a vampire, or the blue eyes of Elsa from "Frozen" could haunt you well beyond Oct. 31.

One woman shopping for Halloween costumes with her children said she never thought of wearing colored contacts to enhance an outfit, but would consider it.

‘They’re cool. They look good,” she said.

Christian Hester, an eye doctor and corneal specialist, said there’s several things to consider if you want colored contacts. For one, poor fitting contact lenses could cause a variety of issues, including cornea scratches and even infection.

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“This can happen with FDA approved contact lenses. But when you start adding in the mix contact lenses that are produced that are not FDA approved then you’re really asking for trouble,” he said.

For people weighing the addition of colored contacts to a Halloween costume, there’s something else to think about, too.

“Price is a concern.” Hester said if the price is too good to be true, it likely is. He warns about less expensive contact lenses.

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The FDA recommends avoiding a wide range of vendors, but it’s the online sellers that gives doctors the biggest concern.

“Amazon’s not going to sell counterfeit goods, but they allow other vendors to come in and sell, and until they’re found to be selling counterfeit goods they could very well enter the economy,” he said.

Many stores no longer sell colored contact lenses because of the problems associated with them.

That’s why you’re encouraged to talk to your eye doctor before you consider putting anything like this in your eye.

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