(HealthDay News) -- Colored contacts -- also known as costume, decorative or fashion contact lenses -- can change the way your eyes look.

Although colored contacts may not change your vision, it is important to get a doctor's prescription to help ensure a proper fit, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.

A colored contact that fits poorly can scratch the cornea or cause an ulcer or sore on the cornea, the agency says.

The FDA also advises:

• Colored contacts are medical devices that are regulated by the FDA and should never been sold as cosmetics or without a prescription.
• You must use the proper solution to keep contact lenses clean and moist and prevent infection.
• Get an exam by an eye doctor before considering colored contacts. Learn how to safely insert them to avoid eye injury.
• Visit your eye doctor if you have redness or irritation that does not go away.