'I'm lucky I'm not blind': The dangers behind cosmetic contacts
Lady Gaga, the "Twilight" vampires, movie demons and T.V. zombies all have one thing in common: cosmetic contacts that transform their eyes.
But a Problem Solver investigation has discovered this growing fashion trend can be dangerous, illegal and cause devastating injuries.
Cosmetic contacts are a growing fashion trend. For Trudy Morris-Hardin it was, "Just a girl thing...wanted to feel good."
Her physically-challenging job doesn't allow her to wear makeup. Her vision is fine, but she used different-hued cosmetic contacts to add a spark to her appearance.
"It was my makeup," she said.
But buying cosmetic contacts over the counter without a doctor's prescription can turn pretty-colored eyes - or an intentionally creepy new costume-look - into a dangerous and painful nightmare. Dr. Aaron Weingeist says they can cause "ulcerations, infections, and perforations of the eye."
Morris-Hardin sighs.
"I'm lucky I'm not blind," she said. She says her first sign of a problem was sudden agonizing pain. "Burning -- intense, very intense. It made me cry, and I'm not a crier."
Weingeist diagnosed Morris-Hardin with abrasions - tiny cuts - on her corneas. When she bought her contacts over the counter, she says no one warned her of possible injuries.
"Shocked me, I had no idea," she said.
"It's really a crapshoot if you buy a lens over the counter," Weingeist said.
It's also illegal to sell contact lenses without a doctor's prescription. So the Problem Solvers went undercover to see how available they are.
With a quick check, we found three area beauty supply and costume shops willing to sell our producer Amanda Lane cosmetic contacts. No one asked for a doctor's prescription.
"I even asked them if I needed a prescription, and they told me I didn't need one," Lane said.
The lenses the Problem Solvers purchased would do everything from change your eye color to making you look blind. One pair even glows in the dark. Weingeist examined the lenses and said while the lack of a proper fit would be a problem, that's not the only risk.
"It could be made anywhere. It may not be sterile. It could injure the eyes in many ways," he said.
One store did make Lane sign a waiver, but none gave her a warning or told her how to care for the contacts.
"None of them told me of symptoms to watch out for -- if I get redness, if I get itchiness. Nobody warned me of anything," she said.
We also checked out the Federal Way store where Morris-Hardin bought her lenses. They showed our senior producer a full complement of contacts but the moment we showed up with our big camera and introduced ourselves as the Problem Solvers, they whisked the contacts back under the counter and brought in the manager.
We asked manager Paul Jun if he or the owner knew that it's illegal to sell contacts without a prescription. Jun said he had no idea.
"I didn't know, I just follow directions, I'm just the manager," he said.
And when we explained that Morris-Hardin had been injured from the contacts she bought there, he promised that they would never sell those contacts again.
"I promise that," said Jun.
But there are plenty of other stores and online options to buy these contacts. So it's up to the buyer to be smart and recognize that putting something in your eyes that a doctor hasn't prescribed is risky and could have permanent consequences.
But a Problem Solver investigation has discovered this growing fashion trend can be dangerous, illegal and cause devastating injuries.
Cosmetic contacts are a growing fashion trend. For Trudy Morris-Hardin it was, "Just a girl thing...wanted to feel good."
Her physically-challenging job doesn't allow her to wear makeup. Her vision is fine, but she used different-hued cosmetic contacts to add a spark to her appearance.
"It was my makeup," she said.
But buying cosmetic contacts over the counter without a doctor's prescription can turn pretty-colored eyes - or an intentionally creepy new costume-look - into a dangerous and painful nightmare. Dr. Aaron Weingeist says they can cause "ulcerations, infections, and perforations of the eye."
Morris-Hardin sighs.
"I'm lucky I'm not blind," she said. She says her first sign of a problem was sudden agonizing pain. "Burning -- intense, very intense. It made me cry, and I'm not a crier."
Weingeist diagnosed Morris-Hardin with abrasions - tiny cuts - on her corneas. When she bought her contacts over the counter, she says no one warned her of possible injuries.
"Shocked me, I had no idea," she said.
"It's really a crapshoot if you buy a lens over the counter," Weingeist said.
It's also illegal to sell contact lenses without a doctor's prescription. So the Problem Solvers went undercover to see how available they are.
With a quick check, we found three area beauty supply and costume shops willing to sell our producer Amanda Lane cosmetic contacts. No one asked for a doctor's prescription.
"I even asked them if I needed a prescription, and they told me I didn't need one," Lane said.
The lenses the Problem Solvers purchased would do everything from change your eye color to making you look blind. One pair even glows in the dark. Weingeist examined the lenses and said while the lack of a proper fit would be a problem, that's not the only risk.
"It could be made anywhere. It may not be sterile. It could injure the eyes in many ways," he said.
One store did make Lane sign a waiver, but none gave her a warning or told her how to care for the contacts.
"None of them told me of symptoms to watch out for -- if I get redness, if I get itchiness. Nobody warned me of anything," she said.
We also checked out the Federal Way store where Morris-Hardin bought her lenses. They showed our senior producer a full complement of contacts but the moment we showed up with our big camera and introduced ourselves as the Problem Solvers, they whisked the contacts back under the counter and brought in the manager.
We asked manager Paul Jun if he or the owner knew that it's illegal to sell contacts without a prescription. Jun said he had no idea.
"I didn't know, I just follow directions, I'm just the manager," he said.
And when we explained that Morris-Hardin had been injured from the contacts she bought there, he promised that they would never sell those contacts again.
"I promise that," said Jun.
But there are plenty of other stores and online options to buy these contacts. So it's up to the buyer to be smart and recognize that putting something in your eyes that a doctor hasn't prescribed is risky and could have permanent consequences.
komonews
xoxo
Carrie
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