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Special-Effect Contact Lenses:
Gothic, Halloween and
Other Crazy Contacts

By Nancy Del Pizzo; reviewed by Joseph T. Barr, OD

Special-effect contact lenses — including gothic contact lenses and other "crazy" lenses — are soft contact lenses that are available for Halloween, theatrical and novelty uses.

In fact, the other-worldly appearance of characters in many recent movies, including Avatar and the Twilight series, are the result of these specially designed variations of color contact lenses.

Gothic and special-effect contact lenses can be used whether or not you normally wear eyeglasses or contact lenses, because they are available both with and without prescriptive correction. The coloring of these lenses is opaque (except for the portion over the pupil), so they achieve the desired theatrical effect on both light- and dark-colored eyes.

Special-Effect Contact Lens Photo Gallery Please mouseover thumbnails below to see closeups, including the new Avatar and Mad Hatter lenses.

Unless you've taken an unusual role in a theatrical production, the most likely time for you to consider costume contact lenses is Halloween. You can use these novelty contact lenses to enhance your costume choice. For example, cat-eye designs work great if you're dressing as a black cat or other animal.

Gothic contact lenses have become very popular, too. These special effect contacts come in a wide variety of dramatic colors, or they can completely mask your natural eye color, making your entire eye appear black.

Some gothic and other "crazy" or "FX" contact lens designs are hand-painted and custom made.

The cost of many theatrical and special-effect contact lenses is comparable to that of more conventional color contact lenses designed to enhance or change your eye color. Custom hand-painted designs, however, can cost significantly more.

If you plan to use vision insurance to pay for special-effect contacts, first check with your eye care professional to see if the costume contact lenses you are interested in are covered by your insurance plan.

Wild Eyes and Gothic Contact Lenses

Several companies make theatrical, special-effect and costume contact lenses. They include Marietta Vision, CIBA Vision (Wild Eyes) and others.

Some contacts, such as the all-red, all-black and other scary designs, may be considered gothic contact lenses.

Marietta Vision also offers vampire contacts (like the ones used in the Twilight movie series), sci-fi contacts (like those worn in Avatar), anime contacts and bright-colored contacts that show up best under a black light.

A best-selling new fantasy lens is the Mad Hatter style from the movie Alice in Wonderland.

See the photo gallery above for examples of gothic, anime and other special effect contact lenses from both Marietta Vision and Wild Eyes.

Do I Need a Prescription for Special-Effect Contact Lenses?

While novelty contacts are designed for fun, they still are considered medical devices and cannot be purchased legally in the United States without a contact lens prescription. Like all contact lenses, they can cause eye infections if not fitted correctly or cared for properly.

You must see an eye doctor to have them fitted and prescribed, even if your eyes don't need a prescriptive correction (that is, you don't usually wear eyeglasses or contact lenses).

You also need to clean and disinfect gothic and special-effect contact lenses like any other contact lens, and you should never share or swap your contacts with friends. Doing so could lead to a serious eye infection and permanent vision loss.

Where to Buy Gothic, Wild Eyes and Special-Effect Contacts

You can buy special-effect contact lenses from the eye care professional who fits and prescribes them for you; or you can ask for a copy of your prescription and buy them elsewhere.

To ensure a safe wearing experience, always buy your gothic and special-effect contact lenses from an authorized source.

Never buy special-effect contacts at any store that doesn't ask you for a valid contact lens prescription. Don't buy contact lenses at a flea market, fair or similar setting. Such sales are illegal in the United States, and for good reasons:

• You might be getting unsafe products that are not FDA-approved for sale in the United States. Don't risk your eyes on products that may have been manufactured improperly or don't have sterile packaging.
• Even wearing FDA-approved lenses can be dangerous, if they haven't been specifically fitted to your eyes. Poor-fitting contact lenses can cause serious vision problems, abrasions and infections. Plus, they probably won't be comfortable!

Gothic and special-effect contact lenses are as safe as any other contact lens, as long as you follow the rules:

• Keep in mind that "crazy" contact lenses generally are designed for daily wear only and are not FDA-approved to be worn overnight.
• Clean, disinfect and care for your gothic contacts or other special-effect contact lenses as directed by your eye care practitioner.
• See your eye doctor for routine exams to monitor the health of your eyes.

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[Page updated June 2011]