Are Halloween Contacts Safe?

Halloween is a fun time of the year but if you decide to take your fancy dress outfit to the next level to include scary eye contact lenses, be careful – never wear Halloween contact lenses if you are not sure of their safety.  Read on as we discuss the unwanted side effects they could bring and if it’s possible to safely wear Halloween contact lenses.

What are Cosmetic Contact Lenses?

Coloured decorative contact lenses are cosmetic contact lenses that alter the colour or appearance of the eye for cosmetic effect.

Worn for costume or fashion, cosmetic contact lenses are used to change eye colour or create effects such as the cat eye effect, the zombie eye effect, or all-white sclera lenses. They’re ultimately used as an accessory to complete a costume, but opting for cheap contact lenses can lead to more hassle than they’re worth.

Unlike normal prescription contact lenses which are used to improve eyesight, so-called “fashion” lenses are used only for cosmetic purposes. However, more recently some cosmetic lenses can be used to improve the sight of the person as well as change the colour of the eyes. This can be for a spooky Halloween effect or to simply enhance the colour of their eyes.

So how do they work? The centre portion, over the pupil, will usually be clear or less pigmented so that the wearer can see through here. For instance, with white colour contacts, the white portion of the contact lens covers the sclera – the white portion of the eye – and the pupil portion of the contact lens remains clear and the wearer can see through it.

We’d highly recommend purchasing coloured contact lenses from reputable outlets to avoid eye infection or damage: lenses that are not fitted by experts can damage the eye.

Are Coloured Contact Lenses Safe for Halloween?

Coloured contact lenses, especially the ones bought for Halloween, can be quite safe, but that depends on where and how the lenses are purchased and used.

Wearing contact lenses purchased without a prescription, online or in novelty shops from overseas or other unregulated retailers is a very serious risk to the wearer, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Lenses that don’t fit properly can cause serious infections, scratches to the cornea, and in some cases blindness.

Tinted lenses can also be dangerous if they are not used correctly. Wearing contact lenses for sleeping, not washing them correctly or wearing them for too long can cause eye infections or corneal ulcers. These infections can include bacterial keratitis, which is often very painful and destroys the cornea permanently if not treated.

Just make sure your lenses come from a reliable source with a prescription from a qualified eye care practitioner who fits the lenses to your eyes and shows you how to care for them properly. If you take care of them and follow the directions, they can be a fun accessory to a Halloween costume that does not damage your eyes.

How to Safely Wear Halloween Contact Lenses

If you decide to wear coloured contact lenses for a Halloween costume or another event, here’s what you should do to reduce the risk of damage to your eyes:

1. Buy them from the right place: The safest way to get and use coloured contact lenses is to go to an eye-care professional, have your eyes checked (even if you don’t need corrective lenses), get a prescription and order them elsewhere.
2. Cleanliness matters: Wash your hands before touching your lenses and use only the recommended contact lens solution to clean and store them – never water or saliva.
3. One-night wear only: Wear coloured contacts for just one night – if you’re a Halloween reveller, for instance – continuous wear will deprive your cornea of oxygen, which could result in irritation or infection. But once the festivities are over, don’t reuse your lenses, especially if they are one-use contacts.
4. Don’t sleep in them: Sleeping in contacts can lead to keratitis, a condition that permanently damages your vision.
5. Don’t swap lenses: Sharing contacts, even for cosmetic reasons, can transmit germs that cause disease since people’s eyes vary in shape, and their prescriptions are different as well.

Why Do Coloured Contact Lenses Hurt My Eyes?

As a first-time user of coloured lenses, the factors discussed below could lead to your eyes feeling uncomfortable or hurting:

1. Poor hygiene: Failure to clean or handle lenses properly can introduce bacteria or other contaminants into the eye. If you don’t wash your hands before putting your lenses into your eyes or use the wrong cleaning solutions, you’re likely going to experience irritation.
2. Dirt or grime on the lenses: Dirt or grime on the lenses can make the lenses feel gritty or scratchy in the eye.
3. Allergic reactions: Some people can be allergic to either the material in the lenses or the solution used to clean them. Symptoms can include redness, itching, excessive production of tears or even swelling of the eyes. If these symptoms appear, it is imperative that you take out the lenses immediately and see an optician.

Meanwhile, apart from making sure that the lenses are in the right position, these factors must be taken into account to ensure safety and comfort. If irritation occurs, the lenses should be removed whilst they are being worn and medical advice sought.

There’s Nothing Spooky About Endangering Your Eyesight

Remember, Halloween is only one night. If you feel anxious wearing contact lenses or they feel uncomfortable after you put them on, we recommend to avoid using them altogether.