The Obama administration warned Monday that people shouldn’t wear decorative contact lenses that are bought as part of their Halloween costume, as they may be counterfeit and filled with dangerous bacteria or lead that could damage their eyesight.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said federal authorities have seized about 100,000 pairs of unapproved lenses. But the government said the “dangerous” product will still find its way into the U.S.
“Criminal elements will capitalize on the excitement of the holiday season by selling substandard, dangerous counterfeit and illegal items with no regard for the health and safety of consumers,” ICE Homeland Security Investigations Executive Associate Director Peter Edge said in a statement.
ICE said bacteria has been found in some decorative lenses due to poor sanitary conditions where the product is produced. In others, the decorative coloring can contain lead that leaches “directly into the eye.”
While ICE is seizing some of these shipments, it recommended that people only buy contact lenses from licensed eye doctors, and not costume shops.
“You’d never buy a new hip at a flea market and you should never buy a medical device like contact lenses at one either,” said Georgia Optometric Association President Dr. Ben Casella in the ICE statement. “If you’re not careful, one night of using knock-off lenses to change your appearance can mean a permanent change in your ability to see for the rest of your life.”
ICE said studies have shown that 11 percent of U.S. consumers have worn decorative eye lenses, and that most of those were bought without a prescription. Almost 60 percent of those people have worn the lenses for longer than the recommended period of time.
