Govt. Warns On Dangerous Amazon and eBay Fake Contact Lenses

Decorative and fake lenses may damage or destroy eyesight

October 23, 2019 - Los Angeles, CA – Trying to change your eye color for Halloween, or to look like your favorite star using contact lenses could cause a lot of damage or destroy your eyesight if you get them without professional eye care supervision.

U.S. Homeland Security Investigations ("HSI") is warning consumers about the dangers of cheap decorative contact lenses. The lenses are commonly called, among other names: fashion contact lenses, Halloween contact lenses, colored contact lenses, cosmetic contact lenses, and theatre contact lenses. The fake and dangerous lenses are available from e-commerce sellers including Amazon, eBay, and Alibaba.

Decorative contact lenses just change the look of your eyes, they do not correct vision. The lenses can temporarily change your brown eyes to blue or make your eyes look like cat eyes or vampire eyes for Halloween. Decorative contact lenses are actually medical devices regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), and for a reason. A quick decision could permanently damage or destroy your eyesight. Contact lenses require a doctor's prescription and FDA approval, yet are sold online without restrictions.

• Selling contact lenses is prohibited on Amazon for any seller not authorized to sell restricted medical products through the Professional Health Care Program.
• Contact lenses and prescription eyewear can only be sold by pre-approved sellers on eBay.
• Alibaba.com does not permit the posting of unauthorized medical devices.

Just like corrective contact lenses, you should never buy contact lenses from a street vendor, a beauty supply store, flea market, novelty store or Halloween store -- and you should always have a prescription and professional supervision. See an eye doctor immediately if there are signs of eye infection, including redness, lasting eye pain or decrease in vision.

The counterfeit lenses are made in China and contain bacteria and can be contaminated with lead and other toxins says HSI Special Agent in Charge Tim Meadows. The agency is also targeting the makeup and cosmetics that are sold to accent costumes. Vendors who sell fake items can be charged with trafficking counterfeit goods and trademark piracy, and face a 10-year federal prison sentence for each count if convicted.

Shown: Amazon and eBay decorative contact lens listings