Like most people in the U.S., you are probably getting ready for Halloween. You are likely looking for the most awesome, scariest, and memorable costumes for your whole family. As you look for such costumes and makeup, are you considering eye safety?

 

If you fail to take the right precautions this Halloween season, it could turn out to be a real nightmare for you and your loved ones. The last thing you want to do is choose the wrong contact lenses, eye makeup, or other pointy stuff that can cause eye scratches, infections, or even diseases.

 

Can Halloween Costume Contacts and Other Props Harm Your Eyes?

Unfortunately, many people are unaware of Halloween eye safety. Halloween is one of the busiest periods for emergency rooms and eye doctors. Eye safety during this holiday period merits some attention and extra preparation time.

 

While most people look forward to the fun, sights, and frights of this holiday, it can be a scary day for another reason. Many Halloween traditions often lead to eye injuries that haunt people long after the night. Fortunately, many of these injuries are preventable with some awareness and planning.

 

Costume Contact Lenses for Halloween

If you are thinking about buying colored contact lenses to further enhance your Halloween look, you need to understand one important fact. If not used correctly, such lenses can cause permanent eye damage or even vision loss. This is especially so if you buy contact lenses without an eye doctor’s prescription, which is illegal in the United States.

 

Even if you choose to get non-prescription colored contacts for Halloween, you still need an educational session and contact lens fitting from an eye doctor. This will ensure safe and proper fitting for your unique eyes.

 

Otherwise, you will be at risk of developing contact lens-related eye and/or vision problems. These include ulcers on your cornea, scratches on your eyes’ outer layer, infection, scarring, or even permanent loss of vision. According to the CDC, people should avoid using costume contact lenses altogether. You should only use contact lenses to correct your vision.

 

Halloween Eye Makeup

Before you apply any Halloween eye makeup, you need to understand that some of the products on the market have very real and scary effects. Some of the costume eye makeup products people apply during Halloween are not for use anywhere near the eyes. This is because they can cause infections, eye irritation, or even allergic reactions. Also, be cautious of makeup like fake blood that could drip into the eye.

 

Other Halloween Eye Safety Tips to Consider

Did you know that a Halloween sugar rush can cause scary eye problems? A healthy diet is essential in ensuring good eye and general health. Halloween is all about sugary treats. According to some recent studies, increased sugar intake can increase your risk of macular degeneration.

 

Too much sugar can boost the production of glycation, which can lead to inflammation in your body. Health experts also link glycation to other conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, and eye diseases like glaucoma and cataracts.

 

Bottom Line

To maintain your eye health during the Halloween season, you need to consider the factors discussed above. You need to think twice before applying eye makeup, wearing costume contact lenses, and consuming too many sugary treats.

For more on Halloween eye safety, contact Wear Eyewear at our offices in Chicago or Orland Park, Illinois. You can call (312) 626-0036 or (708) 349-9327 today to schedule an appointment.