Well, people wear contact lenses to change their eye color so I don't know why they'd be harmful in any way. I assume there is some kind of science that's making them look "whited out" but she can actually still see? I don't know anything about that. I really can't imagine that wearing them would be harmful to her eyes. I don't have grandchildren, but I do have kids, and as long as they could see well with the contacts in for a few hours or however long it takes to trick-or-treat, I wouldn't have a problem with it. I'm not sure why you're upset about it?

I'm upset because these are over the counter lenses and could have the potential to scratch her corneas. They are not Rx lenses and may not be completely smooth and they may not accurately fit the contour of her eye.

Any foreign object in an eye could cause injury, infection and loss of sight.

A 12 yr old doesn't have the logic to think that far ahead, but I'd expect a responsible mother to worry about her child's safety.

Mona, You are right to be concerned. Check this link for information. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/10/26/earlyshow/living/parenting/main6992925.shtml

Here is a link that might be useful: halloween contact lenses

I thought it sounded like a bad idea even before I read the link. I figured something sold over the counter like that is probably made in Asia and we know how careful (not) some of their manufacturing processes are.

This "fad" gives me the chills.

Does your GD wear contact lenses normally?

There are a lot of Web sites that sell these things, and the ones that I just looked at require a prescription to get these (and prescriptions for glasses are not the same thing as a prescription for contact lenses).

When people wear different-colored contacts to change their eye color, they are getting them through their doctor's prescription. Legit Web companies will not sell without a copy of a prescription, period. (I have an ophthalmologist in the family.)

Check out Lens.com (just the first site I hit on) for some FAQs about these things. Contact lenses of any type need to fit the individual's eye -- there are all sorts of variations that only a trained professional can measure.

And no offense to opticians -- I'll let them order my glasses, but only with a prescription from an ophthalmologist. And if I had kids, no way would I walk into an optician's at the local mall and buy this stuff, which is what it sounds like happened. If they were purchased from one of those Halloween costume stores that pop up during this season, I would be even more worried. (The fad lenses seem to cost under $30.)

Mona: Do you know which mall they went to? If I were in your shoes, I'd go do a little in-person research. I'd want to know if there is SOME eye doctor on the premises and whether the specific lenses it sells are FDA-approved, and that's just for starters.

But the bottom line for me is that I would never jeopardize a child's eyesight by buying her something that I have not researched thoroughly and gotten my ophthalmologist's approval for. A $30 fad for a few hours of fun is not worth the possible issues.

I understand your concern, Mona ; it's hard to be the mother-in-law who
disagrees, though, isn't it ? the article above sure is convincing agains those lenses, why take the chance ? surely your DIL will agree with you after reading that.

i didn't read the article, but i can almost 100% say that there isn't a single opthamologist who would support them!!!

i don't have any d-i-l's yet, but i can pretty much say that i would have to say something... i can't imagine, as a parent, allowing my child to put contacts in their eye that weren't obtained from a reputable optician...

Oops, I missed the part where she bought them at a mall! Yes, I'd be concerned.

I just found out she bought them at a seasonal costume shop for $12 and she doesn't think they'll be a problem.

How can some people be soooooo dumb when it comes to children's safety?

$12 at a seasonal costume shop. OMG.
That would make me want to call the county or city health department to investigate -- that just cannot be legal!

That sounds like something the local news stations might want to cover. I think I'll send an email to mine. That is just crazy..

Duh. I went back to copy that website and saw it was from CBS news already. Well, there's always NBC and ABC.

I remember our eye doctor telling our teens that those were extremely dangerous.

Hi Mona,
My local paper featured this topic on the front page of today's paper.
contact lenses

Maybe you can use it as back-up to your argument that it's not a good, or safe, idea. Good luck.