Cosmetic or decorative contact lenses will be regulated as medical devices in the same way corrective lenses are, Health Canada says.

People wear cosmetic contact lenses to change the colour or appearance of their eyes.

"These types of lenses have been regulated as consumer products," Health Canada said in a release Wednesday. "However the risks of decorative lenses are identical to the risks of corrective lenses and adverse events causing harm and even permanent damage to the eyes are not uncommon."

The department wants to regulate cosmetic contact lenses as medical devices so that the products will face the same licensing, manufacturing, labeling, and instructions to improve their safety before they go on sale as other medical devices do.

Dr. Allan Slomovic, president of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society, said he's delighted with the new regulations.

"There is no difference between how cosmetic contact lenses and corrective contact lenses are inserted and interact with the eye and [they] should be regulated the same," he said in the release.

Health Canada noted the risk of severe corneal infection related to lens wear is 12.5 times higher for cosmetic lenses than it is for corrective contacts.

The new regulations will come into effect next July, to give manufacturers time to comply.