Halloween Costume Contacts May Inflict Real Life Horror on Users

With Halloween right around the corner, people will be donning all sorts of enhancements, from wigs and face paint, to costumes and contact lenses, but “[y]our appearance won’t be the only frightening about wearing costume contact lenses this Halloween,” Popular Science warns. 

Although there is no comprehensive study on this issue, The Ohio State UniversityCollege of Optometry professor Phillip Yuhas explains that eye doctors witness plenty of “anecdotal evidence that risky behaviors increase in patients wearing costume contact lenses.” 

Perhaps the riskiest of these behaviors is sleeping in these contact lenses. This puts wearers at the highest risk of a cornea infection. Decorative lenses also have a greater chance of not fitting the wearer’s eye correctly. Poorly fitting contacts can lead to many eye problems, including surface abrasions, allergic reactions and blurred vision.  

“…although they are an exciting accessory, costume contact lenses are not toys,” Yuhas writes, but not all hope is lost! If you feel costume contacts are a must, Yuhas encourages you to first, receive a comprehensive eye exam from an optometrist or ophthalmologist. They can make sure your eyes are healthy, will fit you for contact lenses and will teach you how to clean and handle your lenses. Also, make sure you purchase these contacts through a reputable vendor, as online retailers of these costumes lenses may be unregulated.