Thinking of adding vampire-red eyes or a creepy cat-eye stare to your Halloween look? Optometry Australia has a warning before you pop those lenses in.
Halloween is all about the details: fangs, fake blood, dramatic makeup and perhaps a pair of coloured contact lenses to finish the transformation.
But before you add novelty lenses to your cart, remember this: even if you wear them for just one night, you still need to handle contact lenses with care.
Decorative contact lenses might look like a harmless costume accessory, but they sit directly on the surface of your eye.
If they don’t fit properly, are contaminated or aren’t handled correctly, they can cause painful scratches, serious infections and, in severe cases, permanent vision loss.
'Contact lenses aren’t one-size-fits-all, even when they’re just being used to change the colour of your eyes,'said Dom Willson, optometrist and Professional Services Manager at Optometry Australia.
'Having your eyes assessed by an optometrist before wearing cosmetic lenses helps ensure they’re suitable for you and that you know how to wear and care for them safely.'
A frightening statistic worth knowing
Research published in Ophthalmology found that buying contact lenses online increased the risk of microbial keratitis, a potentially sight-threatening corneal infection.
The researchers also identified showering in lenses, wearing lenses overnight and reusing daily disposable lenses as risk factors.
For Halloween costume lenses, the message is simple: don’t take shortcuts with something that sits directly on your eye.
Always consult an optometrist before wearing contact lenses to ensure they suit your eyes and fit correctly.
Before you buy those spooky lenses
If you’re planning to wear coloured or decorative contact lenses this Halloween, keep these tips in mind:
- Visit an optometrist first - even if you think your vision is perfect, you still need professional advice and a proper fitting before wearing contact lenses.
- Be careful where you buy them - avoid unknown sellers and products with unclear origins. Ask your optometrist about suitable lenses and how to obtain them safely.
- Keep your hands clean - wash and dry them thoroughly before handling lenses.
- Never share lenses - sharing can spread harmful microorganisms between wearers.
- Avoid exposing contact lenses to water – even a splash from the tap, swimming pool, lake, river or shower can expose your eyes to microorganisms that cause rare but serious infections, such as Acanthamoeba keratitis.
- Follow the instructions - use the recommended cleaning solution for reusable lenses, stick to the prescribed wearing schedule and never sleep in your lenses unless your eye care professional has specifically advised that it is safe.
Know when to take them out
If your eyes become red, painful, unusually sensitive to light or your vision becomes blurry after wearing contact lenses, remove them immediately and seek urgent advice from an optometrist or other appropriate eye care professional.
Don’t wait for symptoms to clear on their own. Some contact lens-related infections can progress quickly and threaten your sight.
You can still have a frighteningly good Halloween costume without risking your eyes.
Make eye safety part of your Halloween plans. Find an optometrist near you.
