Halloween Costumes: What’s Safe For Your Eyes?

Halloween is a time to be silly, be spooky, and have fun. But there are certain things that can put a serious damper on your holiday festivities: a Halloween prank gone wrong, stomach aches from too much candy, and a costume that causes more harm than good. Here are some Halloween costume accessories that could be harmful to the eyes.

Contact Lenses to Match Your Costume

The use of colored contact lenses have grown increasingly popular as an addition to one’s Halloween costume. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize that most of these contacts are not regulated and can cause serious damage to their eyes. “Everyone needs to be extra careful about what they stick in their eyes. Not all lenses are equal,” warns Christopher J. Rapuano, MD, Chief, Wills Eye Cornea Service.

The FDA issued several warnings about unregulated lenses, which can cause:

• Corneal ulcers
• Abrasions
• Infection
• Allergic reactions
• Tight lens syndrome – the lenses fit too tight and stick to the cornea
• Extreme pain and discomfort
• Slipping lenses
  • Slippage can become so severe that contacts can be nearly impossible to take out and even be permanently lost.
• Poor range of vision

These concerns don’t even get into the common discomforts of regular contact lens wear like dryness or irritation. It’s best to avoid these types of lenses altogether, but if you insist on wearing them, make sure they are fitted properly and follow these important tips:

• Don’t share contacts or wear expired lenses.
• Immediately remove contacts and call your doctor if you experience redness, inflammation, excessive discharge, or pain.

Halloween is a time to be silly, be spooky, and have fun. But there are certain things that can put a serious damper on your holiday festivities: a Halloween prank gone wrong, stomach aches from too much candy, and a costume that causes more harm than good. Here are some Halloween costume accessories that could be harmful to the eyes.

Laura’s Story

Laura Butler learned what a true nightmare it can be if you buy costume contacts through an unregulated retailer. After trying on her new fashion lenses, Butler felt an agonizing pain. She struggled to remove the lenses and eventually went to the emergency room. “The doctor said it was as if someone took sandpaper and sanded my cornea,” she explained. “He said he wasn’t going to sugar-coat it, that I could lose my eyesight or could lose my eye.”

Seven weeks and $2000 later, Laura has permanent vision damage and will never see the same again. Her advice? “Take the time to go to the doctor, pay the extra money, and save yourself the agony.”

Masks

Like fashion lenses, masks, goggles, and eye patches can impede your range of vision. To avoid this, wear costume additions on the top of your head when moving around to avoid injuries from running into things or falling. They can also cause irritation around the eyes, so take them off if they become uncomfortable.