Eyeing a real Halloween horror

Now that we've established that those stories about razor blades and poison in Halloween candy were generally urban legend, here's another seasonal horror that actual medical professionals swear is real: Nasty eye infections from decorative contact lenses.

Apparently a lot of people are dressing up as Michael Jackson in his "Thriller'' zombie mode, and might be inspired by the zombie white-out lenses MJ wore for the video. And we can see how cat lovers might be drawn by the feline look shown here.

So this warning from the Florida Society of Ophthalmology caught our attention: If you get your lenses without a prescription, you could set yourself up for a serious infection and possibly permanent damage.

Now that's frightening.

It's been illegal to sell contact lenses without a prescription since 2005. But that law is pretty easy to get around, thanks to the Internet. Decorative lenses (so-called because they're purely cosmetic; they don't correct vision problems) also crop up at some retail outlets too, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

“Teens and young adults are more likely to purchase decorative contact lenses and this group is often unaware of the risks these types of lenses can have on their eyes,” said Dr. Bradley Fouraker, a Tampa ophthalmologist and president of the FSO.

Here's the problem: When you get properly prescribed contact lenses, not only are the lenses fitted to your eye shape and size, you also are taught how to properly clean, insert and remove them. (Which, as a contact lens wearer for almost a year, I can tell you takes some practice.)

Plus, the FDA says it has had reports of people actually sharing the one-size-fits-all lenses. Result: infections, abrasions, allergic reactions or even blindness and eye loss.

The worst damage has been reported by people who wore the decorative lenses overnight.

So, if you got your zombie eyes or crazy cat eyes by prescription, enjoy with care. If not, leave them in the case and just pile on a little more makeup. You'll be plenty frightening for Halloween without sacrificing your eyes.

Charlotte Sutton, health and medicine editor.

[Photo: Jupiter Images]