Halloween contact lenses are becoming more and more popular amongst children and adults. However, they can be dangerous if you don’t take proper precautions. Every year, people suffer eye injuries as a result of misuse of cosmetic contact lenses.
Eye care professionals are raising awareness of the dangers of un-prescribed contact lenses to parents and young people. Every year, ophthalmologists treat patients who suffer painful complications after using novelty contact lenses that have not been properly fitted by a certified eye care professional.
According to the FDA, 18% of Americans wear non-prescription contact lenses. This trend has been rolling across the globe, as more and more people try for bigger and better Halloween costumes.
A 2010 study published in Paediatrics indicated that at least 13,500 emergency room cases each year in the US are due to contact lens injuries in children and teens. We also know anecdotally from eye care professionals that injuries resulting from Halloween contact lenses persist year on year.
What Are Cosmetic Contact Lenses?
Cosmetic contact lenses are lenses that change the color or even shape of your eyes. They are popular among the cosplay scene, but they are never more popular than at Halloween. Cosmetic contact lenses are also sold as “decorative lenses”, or “theatre lenses”.
The marketplace for selling these lenses has exploded in recent years, and now everyone wants cat eyes, or snake eyes, or red eyes, or dead eyes. But for the sake of your eye health, it’s vital that you are fully aware of the risks you take when you put those contact lenses in.
Dangers of Wearing Un-Prescribed Contact Lenses
So if you are looking to vamp up or zombify your eyes, here are a few things to remember:
Cosmetic or decorative lenses don’t correct vision. They just change how your eyes look. In order to avoid eye injury, you need a prescription to ensure a proper fit. Lenses that are too big will simply fall out. Lenses that are too small will restrict your eye, potentially leading to corneal tearing.
Halloween contact lenses are not “one size fits all.” Everyone has different eyes, so an optometrist must measure each eye to properly to fit the lenses. They must also evaluate how well your eye responds to contact lens wear. Poorly fitting Halloween contacts can cause serious eye damage, including:
- scratches on the cornea
- corneal infection
- conjunctivitis
- decreased vision
- blindness
Scratches on your cornea can lead to infection, which can deteriorate without treatment. In addition to being painful, expensive and debilitating , even a small corneal scratch can lead to permanent blindness.
Also known as Pink Eye, Conjunctivitis is a common eye condition that causes redness and inflammation to the layer of tissue that covers the front of the eye. It is a common side effect of cosmetic contact lens users.
Many people who use cosmetic lenses are using them for the first time and put them in under unsanitary conditions. Regular contact lens users know the importance of keeping their contacts (and their fingers!) sanitised when putting in their contacts.
How to Use Cosmetic Contact Lenses Safely
If you are not used to putting in contact lenses, you run the risk of transferring a bacterial infection, or even tearing your own cornea. If cosmetic lenses are essential to completing your Halloween look, use them with respect and caution.
You should only ever purchase contact lenses from an eye care professional. Avoid places that sell decorative lenses without a prescription, even online. Retailers that lack professional eye care knowledge may give you little to no instructions on how to clean and care for your lenses. Worse, they could give you the wrong information.
The most common piece of misinformation regarding Halloween lenses is how to clean them. Never use water. Failure to use the proper solution to keep contact lenses clean and moist can lead to infections.
If you choose to use cosmetic contact lenses this Halloween, don’t forget…
- Get an eye exam from a licensed eye care professional, even if you have good vision
- Get a prescription that includes the brand and lens dimensions
- Buy the lenses from an eye care professional or a vendor that requires a prescription
- Follow directions for cleaning, disinfecting and wearing the lenses
- Halloween contact lenses must be stored in a clean and sterile environment
- Do not sleep in your contact lenses
- Never share your contact lenses with anyone else
- If you suffer any irritation, itching, redness or swelling then remove your contact lenses immediately
Despite these being the perfect finishing touch to your Halloween costume, we cannot dress-up the risks. If you choose to celebrate Halloween wearing creepy contacts, make sure you think, take precautions and be safe. Your vision is a gift. Don’t let one fashion disaster ruin it forever.