Halloween: The Truth About Costume Contact Lenses

Halloween is a time to let loose, have fun and be creative with your costume. But it's also important to keep safety in mind when selecting your look - especially if you're planning to wear contact lenses. 

Contact lenses are an essential part of many people's everyday lives, and they can also be a great way to add flair to your Halloween costume. However, it's important to note that contact lenses aren't just for fun — they're a medical device that can help improve vision and eye health. 

While contact lenses can be a great addition to your Halloween costume, they're not always appropriate. Therefore, it's important to consider how you'll wear your contact lenses before deciding whether or not they're right for your costume.

Ask an Eye Care Professional

Before you put anything in your eyes, the most important thing to understand is that your eye care professional can help you ensure that costume contact lenses are a good fit for you and your face. Additionally, they can advise on how to wear and care for the lenses to be safe, comfortable, and effective.

If you have any questions about the safety of contact lenses or would like advice on choosing a pair of costume contacts for Halloween or other events this season, please don't hesitate to contact your local optometrists or call our office at (208) 529-6600.

Never Buy Lenses From Unsafe Sources

If you want to wear contact lenses for Halloween, ensure they are FDA-approved and purchased from a safe source. The FDA must clear all contact lenses sold in the U.S. before being sold on the market. 

However, many websites sell illegal contact lenses without approval from any official agency of government regulation. Illegal lenses may look like standard contact lenses but could cause serious harm if worn incorrectly or for too long. Some sites may even claim that their products are FDA-approved without providing any evidence whatsoever, which should raise red flags immediately!

The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) website states, “Never buy contact lenses from a street vendor, a beauty supply store, flea market, novelty store or Halloween store, or unknown online distributors as they may be contaminated and/or counterfeit and therefore not safe to use.”

If you are unsure whether or not the FDA licenses your vendor, review the list of approved sellers on their website.

Wear & Replace Lenses as Directed

The most important thing to remember when using contact lenses is to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on using and caring for them. These directions may vary depending on your lens type, but it’s always best to stick with what your eye care professional tells you.

Make sure that you replace your contact lenses within their recommended timeframe. If they are hard or brittle, don't wear them anymore — they're no good! Also, remember that contact lenses can be dangerous if not stored correctly, so ensure they're stored in a clean case at all times.

How to Clean & Store Your Contacts Correctly

Here are some things to keep in mind while taking care of your contacts:

• Wash your hands
• Fill each chamber of your contact lens case with fresh contact lens solution
• In the palm of your hand, apply a few drops of disinfecting solution
• With one finger, gently rub the lens in your palm to clean the lens surfaces
• Rise thoroughly with more solution
• Repeat for the other lens
• Securely close the case and leave your lenses to soak overnight

Whether you're wearing costume contacts or prescription lenses, always follow the instructions your eye doctor gave to you. If the contact lens instructions tell you to wear and remove your lenses daily, then don't go longer than that without taking them out. If the instructions say not to wear them for more than 12 hours at a time, then don't—even if it's just for fun!

Use Proper Care Products

Make sure that any solution or case recommended by your eye doctor is appropriately used each time before putting on and taking off the contact lenses. This will help keep them clean and safe while they're in use!

Wash Hands Before Touching Lenses

Wash hands before touching lenses. Contacts can be cleaned, but they can also carry germs transferred from your fingers from other surfaces like doorknobs so wash hands thoroughly with soap before handling them!

Buy Lenses From Reputable Sources Only

Unfortunately, many companies sell fake or low-quality lenses, which can be very dangerous for your eyes. If you are concerned about the quality of the contact lenses, ask your eye doctor if it is safe to wear them before purchasing them online or from a store other than an optometrist’s office.

Contact Your Doctor In Emergencies

If you develop an eye infection or allergy while wearing costume contacts, remove the costume contact lenses immediately. Do not try to clean your eyes with tap water but instead use artificial tears or an over-the-counter eye wash solution.

Contact your eye doctor as soon as possible so they can prescribe appropriate medication and treatment to reduce inflammation and improve comfort while they heal correctly.

Keep Your Eyes Safe This Halloween

Halloween is a fun time of year, but it can also be dangerous if you’re not careful. It’s important to remember that contact lenses are medical devices and should only be used under professional supervision. Improper use of contact lenses may cause blindness, pain, discomfort, or other permanent damage to your eyesight.

If you need help with your Halloween costume, talk to an eye care professional before purchasing any contact lenses online or in stores. Some costumes may not be able to be completed without the use of contacts, so keep this in mind when making decisions about what type of costume would look best on yourself!