Posted by: Northwest Eye in News on October 11, 2022
The month of October always features creative costumes and renditions of superheroes, TV characters and other Halloween outfits. Although you’d like your costume to get a second glance, it’s important to keep safety top of mind as you put together your outfit.
Custom contact lenses are sometimes used to elevate a costume, by making the eyeball look like a cat’s eye or even a spider web. As enticing as it may be to purchase these lenses, we want to ensure your night of fun doesn’t turn into a horror story for your vision. Here are some costume contact lens safety tips from the American Academy of Ophthalmology:
- Make sure you see an eye care professional for an eye exam and a prescription before wearing costume contact lenses. Your doctor will check each eye and discuss proper contact lens care with you.
- Ensure you get a prescription that is valid and includes the lens measurements, brand name, and expiration date. The prescription will guarantee that the lens properly fits your eye, among other safety measures. If the costume lens is not a proper fit, it could be difficult to remove and lead to serious injury.
- Never buy costume contact lenses from Halloween or costume stores. Make sure you get your contact lenses from a seller that asks for a prescription.
- Obey the contact lens care instructions for properly disinfecting, cleaning, and wearing your costume lenses.
- Do not share your costume lenses with anybody.
- Schedule follow-up eye exams as recommended by your eye care provider.
While colored costume lenses could bring your Halloween costume to the next level, please practice proper eye care and don’t sacrifice your vision for one night of fun. For other Halloween eye safety tips, visit the American Academy of Ophthalmology to learn more.
