Oct. 11, 2023 — Prevent Blindness has declared October as Contact Lens Safety Month to provide eyecare professionals resources to help educate the public on proper use of contact lenses and ways to avoid serious vision issues.
 
On its website, Prevent Blindness offers educational resources, including fact sheets and shareable social media graphics, about the different types of contact lenses, the risks of wearing them, how to care for them, and more.
 
Additionally, the “Contact Lens Safety” episode, part of the nonprofit’s Focus on Eye Health Expert Series, features Jeff Todd, Prevent Blindness president and CEO, and Thomas L. Steinemann, M.D., professor of ophthalmology at Case Western Reserve University, discussing the potential dangers of misusing contact lenses.
 
Prevent Blindness also urges educating consumers on cosmetic or decorative contacts, commonly used to enhance Halloween costumes. All contact lenses are classified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as prescription medical devices, even when not used for vision correction. The FDA states that contact lenses are not over-the-counter devices, and those sold without a prescription are in violation of regulations set by the Federal Trade Commission and may be contaminated and/or counterfeit and unsafe to use. Eye infections that may occur from improper contact lens use are acanthamoeba keratitis and fusarium keratitis, with symptoms including blurry vision, discomfort or pain, sensitivity to light, and discharge.
 
“Contact lenses can be used safely and effectively to improve vision,” says Todd. “We ask all contact lens wearers to be diligent and practice good hygiene every day to keep eyes healthy and avoid painful and potentially blinding infections.”