ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) -

With Halloween around the corner, many young people and those young at heart are still considering their costume.

Some are considering changing their eye color as part of their costume.

But before you head to your local gas station and pick up a pair of color contact lenses, heed this warning. They may be cheap now, but could cost you your vision later.

Dr. Kristie Bennett is an optometrist in Atlanta. Bennett said she has seen what can happen when people buy color contact lenses without a prescription.

"Worst thing that could happen is you lose your sight," said Bennett. "I have seen where patients have come in complaining where they had stinging of the eyes or redness after they have inserted these contacts."

Bennett said it's dangerous and it's illegal for gas stations to sell color contacts. CBS Atlanta took our Tough Questions to store owners we found selling them in Atlanta.

"Do you know it's illegal to sell those contact lenses?" Reporter Tony McNary asked a store owner in East Atlanta.

"The guy told me he got a license. He said you don't have to get a prescription to sell them," the owner said.

His store had a large display case of color contacts sitting on the counter by a register. He even had a sign on the door advertising them.

They owner said he bought them from a wholesaler.

"Is he a doctor or optometrist?" McNary asked.

"No doctor, no optometrist," the man said.

"Are you a doctor or optometrist?" said McNary.

"No," he said.

The owner told McNary the contact lenses that he sold had stamps on them from the U.S. Food and Drugs Administration. The FDA regulates contact lenses which are considered medical devices.

"Some of these contacts sold illegally at gas station will have an FDA stamp that's fake," said Bennett.

CBS Atlanta also found  color contacts being sold at Food Mart on Bouldercrest.

Owner Steve Kim showed McNary a variety of color contacts for sale.

Kim said he didn't know it was illegal to sell them in his store.

"So are you going to keep selling them?" McNary asked.

"No, I will return them. I don't like doing anything illegal. If I find out it's illegal I'll return them and if they give me a hard time, then I'll come talk to you," said Kim.

Diana Drake is chairman of the Georgia Board of Dispensing Opticians. Drake said going after places that sell illegal contacts is challenging.

"The laws are tough enough. The problem stems from being able to have enough investigators to go out on a frequent enough basis to be able to shut these people down," said Drake.

Drake said consumers have to file complaints with the Secretary of State's office about places that illegally sell contacts. That will start an investigation.

Those contacts being sold at the gas station may be cheap now, but it could cost you hundreds in doctor bills down the road.

"With Halloween coming up, you don't want to let part of your Halloween costume ruin your vision for the rest of your life," said Bennett.

 

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