Are Circle Lens Contacts Safe?
Popular fashion accessory may have hidden dangers for young people who buy them
Circle lens dangers have become something of a news item following a Lady Gaga Video (Bad Romance) in which her digitally altered eyes have led people to seek out ways of making their own eyes look bigger. In Asian countries such as Korea and Japan, there is a subculture that emulates Anime characters (which have been drawn with big round eyes for decades) known as the Ulzzang look.
Dangers can include scratches, abrasions, and corneal ulcers in the eye, plus infections that can cause blindness. News commentators and professionals also indicate that these lenses are sometimes made in factories that are not accredited for the manufacturing of contact lenses, so they may not always be safe to put in your eyes.
Notes and Special Information
Special note: Circle lenses are not available in the United States but can be bought online from other countries. This does not mean they are safe, or that you will actually get what you order.