Posted by: Northwest Eye in News on October 18, 2024
Halloween has its timeless traditions of spooky fun, creative costumes, and dressing up with friends. But while you’re perfecting your costume and makeup, don’t forget to take care of your eyes! Many Halloween accessories, like makeup, masks, and colored contact lenses, can lead to scary results if not used properly. To ensure your Halloween is as safe as it is spooky, follow these Halloween eye safety tips and tricks.
Makeup Precautions
Whether it’s an intricate part to the costume or an easy solution, using cosmetics can be a great addition to enhancing your look on Halloween. Make sure you are using proper precautions when applying it around your eyes.
- Choose Safe Products: First and foremost, make sure all products and materials used near your eyes are FDA-approved. Select products that are fragrance and paraben free to alleviate potential irritation.
- Patch Test: Always perform a test to make sure you don’t have a reaction to the product. To perform a test patch, apply a small amount of the product on your skin to check for allergic reactions before full application.
- Avoid Eye Contact: Never apply makeup on the inside of the lash line. Applying products on the lash line has shown to increase irritation and dryness on the surface of the eye.
- Steer Clear of Glitter: The plastic particles and dyes in cosmetic glitter are nontoxic, but they can migrate into your eye and cause harm. Craft glitter should never be used for cosmetic purposes as they could contain glass, metal, and harmful dyes.
Costume Accessories and Obstructions
From pirate swords to a spooky mask, these props can complete your costume. However, sharp objects or masks can pose a threat to your eyes and visual field.
- Use Soft or Flexible Materials: Choose accessories made from soft flexible materials such as foam. This reduces the risk of accidentally poking yourself or others in the eye during festivities.
- Check Visibility: Before heading out, make sure your mask or hood doesn’t block your peripheral vision. This is especially important if you’re trick-or-treating at night, as you need to be aware of steps, curbs, and vehicles.
Colored or Costume Contact Lenses
Colored contact lenses can dramatically change your appearance, but they also come with serious risks if not used properly. We want to ensure your night of fun doesn’t turn into a horror story for your vision. If you are wearing costume contacts this Halloween, schedule an appointment with your eye care provider to further discuss.
- Purchase from Trusted Sources: It is always best to purchase contacts through your eye care provider. Over-the-counter tinted contacts are not always FDA approved and may contain harmful chemicals that are toxic and can severely damage your eye. Check with your provider what contacts will work best for your eyes.
- Limit Wear: All contacts should only be worn for a limited amount of time. Costume lenses can restrict airflow to the eye and lead to infections, corneal scratches, or worse.
- Follow Instructions: Always clean your contact lenses with contact solution, never water. If you experience redness, irritation, or blurry vision, stop using the lenses immediately and consult your eye doctor.
- Never Share Contacts: Just like regular contacts, you should never share contacts with another person as it can spread eye infections and increase the risk of corneal ulcers.
Don’t be spooked with an emergency trip to your eye doctor this Halloween. Whether you’re wearing makeup, accessories or contacts, taking precautions will help ensure your eyes stay healthy while you enjoy the fun. If you have any concerns about your vision or eye health during the Halloween season, be sure to schedule an appointment with your eye care provider at Northwest Eye.
