Are Halloween Contact Lenses Safe? What to Check Before You Wear Them, and When to See a Doctor
Coloured and costume contact lenses are everywhere in October: cat eyes, white-outs, blood red. They can be safe, but only when they're licensed, properly fitted and looked after like any other contact lens. Here's how to tell the safe ones from the risky ones, the rules Health Canada sets, and the warning signs that mean take them out and get your eye looked at, which a Mississauga walk-in clinic can do the same day.
Quick answer
In Canada, decorative contact lenses (also called cosmetic, coloured or fashion lenses) have been regulated as Class II medical devices since July 16, 2016. Health Canada says all contact lenses, including decorative ones, carry risks: scratches to the surface of the eye, allergic reactions, infections, impaired vision and blindness, and that the risk may be higher with unlicensed lenses. The safe version is: licensed lenses only (you can check the licence online), fitted and advised by an eye care professional, never shared, and taken out at the first sign of trouble. Sources: canada.ca, Health Canada consumer alert.
Red, sore or blurry after lenses? Take the lenses out and get the eye looked at. Medicare Clinic, 3885 Duke of York Blvd near Square One, sees walk-ins the same day. No referral needed. Walk-ins welcome, Mon to Fri 9 AM to 7 PM, Sat 10 AM to 3 PM.
Sources: Health Canada, Notice: Decorative contact lenses (2016); Health Canada, 2018-2019 Compliance Monitoring Project on Decorative Contact Lenses (23 stores and 39 websites inspected, Oct–Nov 2018).
Why costume lenses are riskier than they look
A contact lens sits directly on the cornea, the clear front window of the eye. Health Canada's consumer alert lists the risks that apply to every contact lens, decorative ones included:
- Cuts or scratches to the top layer of the eyeball (corneal abrasions)
- Allergic reactions, such as itchy, watery, red eyes
- Impaired vision
- Infections
- Blindness
What makes costume lenses a bigger gamble than everyday corrective lenses is where they're bought: Health Canada notes they are sold at costume and novelty shops, cosmetic retailers and online, often without any fitting, and that the risk of side effects "may be higher" with unlicensed lenses.
Source: Health Canada, "Health Canada reminds Canadians of the risks of decorative contact lenses" (2018).
The five rules for wearing them safely
| Rule | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| 1. Licensed lenses only | Health Canada says to use only licensed decorative lenses. Check the product or company name in Health Canada's Medical Devices Active Licence Listing, or call 1-800-267-9675. No licence, no sale. |
| 2. Get them fitted and get advice | Health Canada's advice is to talk to an eye care professional before using decorative lenses, "this Halloween, or for any other purpose." They can advise on the lens material, fitting design and care routine that works best for your eyes. A lens that suits a friend's eye may not suit yours, and if you normally wear glasses the fitting still applies: decorative lenses change how your eyes look, they don't correct your vision. |
| 3. Never swap or share | Health Canada's wording is blunt: "Never swap or share decorative contact lenses with anyone." That includes friends at a party and siblings at home. |
| 4. Follow the care routine, and never sleep in them | Use the care routine your eye care professional recommends, and in Health Canada's words, "Never sleep while wearing decorative contact lenses unless they are extended-wear lenses designed for that purpose." |
| 5. Out at the first sign of trouble | Redness, blurred vision, ongoing discharge or sensitivity to light means remove the lenses immediately and contact an eye care professional. Health Canada warns that left untreated, these symptoms could lead to blindness. |
Sources: Health Canada, "Health Canada reminds Canadians of the risks of decorative contact lenses" (2018); Health Canada, Notice: Decorative contact lenses (2016).
Woke up with a red, painful eye after a costume party? A walk-in doctor can examine the eye, treat common infections, and refer you to an optometrist or an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) if the cornea needs a closer look. Medicare Clinic's walk-in clinic near Square One is open until 7 PM on weekdays.
Warning signs: when to come in
Health Canada's list is short and worth memorizing. If you have any of these after wearing lenses, take them out and don't put them back in:
- Redness
- Blurred vision
- Ongoing discharge
- Sensitivity to light
Pain is the other signal people tend to wait out, and they shouldn't. A scratched cornea feels like something is stuck in the eye and it hurts to blink. Don't rub it, don't drive if you can't see properly, and get it examined that day.
Source: Health Canada, "Health Canada reminds Canadians of the risks of decorative contact lenses" (2018).
Frequently asked questions
Are Halloween contact lenses safe?
They can be, if they're Health Canada-licensed, fitted by an eye care professional, kept clean and never shared. Unlicensed costume lenses from a party store or an unverified website are where the risk climbs: Health Canada notes the risk of side effects "may be higher" with unlicensed lenses, and the possible harms include scratches, infections and loss of vision.
It's only for one night. Is it really a problem?
One night is still a lens on your cornea. Health Canada says all contact lenses, including decorative ones, carry risks, and its safety steps (licensed lenses, clean hands, proper disinfection, no sharing, no sleeping in them unless they are extended-wear lenses made for that) don't come with a one-night exception. The Canadian Association of Optometrists adds that wearers of cosmetic lenses appear to be at higher risk of infection than people who wear lenses to correct vision, and that in a 2018 Health Canada check, 35% of retail outlets and 59% of online sellers failed the licensing and labelling rules. If it's one night, make it a licensed, fitted pair, and have a plan to take them out early.
How long can you wear Halloween contacts?
There's no safe universal number; it depends on the lens and your eyes, which is exactly why Health Canada says to get advice on material, fit and care from an eye care professional before wearing them. Health Canada does give one firm rule: never sleep in decorative lenses unless they are extended-wear lenses designed for that purpose. And whatever the limit, take them out immediately if your eye turns red, your vision blurs, there's discharge, or light starts to bother you.
I've never worn contacts. My eye stings and looks red. Is that normal?
Stinging or a red eye is not something to push through. Health Canada's rule is clear: if you get redness, blurred vision, ongoing discharge or light sensitivity, take the lenses out immediately and contact an eye care professional. First-time wearers should also have an eye care professional advise on fit and care before Halloween night (Health Canada's advice), and wash and dry your hands thoroughly before you touch a lens. Putting a lens in straight from the package without that preparation is how many first-timers end up with a sore eye.
How do you know if your eyes are damaged from contacts?
Health Canada's warning signs are redness, blurred vision, ongoing discharge and sensitivity to light. Pain, or the feeling that something is stuck in the eye, points to a scratched cornea. Any of these after wearing lenses: remove them and have the eye examined the same day.
Where can I get coloured contacts safely in Canada?
From a seller of Health Canada-licensed lenses, ideally after an eye care professional has fitted you. Before you buy, check the product or company name in Health Canada's Medical Devices Active Licence Listing (or call 1-800-267-9675). The Canadian Association of Optometrists advises optometrists and opticians against buying or selling any unlicensed decorative lenses.
Can you share or reuse Halloween contacts?
Never share or swap them, in Health Canada's own words. On reuse, follow the care routine and wearing schedule your eye care professional gave you for that specific lens; if you're unsure whether last year's pair is still safe to wear, ask before you put it in your eye.
Can I wear last year's Halloween contacts?
Not unless they are unopened, within their expiry date, and the manufacturer's instructions allow it. Health Canada's advice is to clean and disinfect lenses exactly as the product instructions direct, and those instructions also set how long a lens can be used once opened. A pair that was opened and stored since last October is outside that window. If you're unsure, ask an eye care professional before the lens goes anywhere near your eye.
Can a walk-in clinic help with a sore eye after wearing lenses?
Yes. A walk-in doctor can examine a red or painful eye, treat common eye infections, and refer you on to an optometrist or an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) if the cornea needs a specialist's look. At Medicare Clinic near Square One, that's a same-day walk-in visit, no referral needed.
Still have a question? Call the clinic and ask, or book a visit and have the eye looked at while you're here.
Sources: Health Canada, Notice: Decorative contact lenses (2016); Health Canada, "Health Canada reminds Canadians of the risks of decorative contact lenses" (2018); Canadian Association of Optometrists (2016); Canadian Association of Optometrists, Position Statement: Non-Corrective Cosmetic Contact Lenses (reviewed May 2023); Health Canada, 2018-2019 Compliance Monitoring Project on Decorative Contact Lenses.
This guide is general health information, not medical advice. Talk to a health-care provider about your own eyes and care.