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Halloween is Here | Practice Eye/Vision Safety

October 30, 2017

Halloween Eye and Vision SafetyHalloween should be a fun time for everyone.  Here are some helpful safety tips to keep your “ghosts and goblins” safe on Halloween.  Every year hundreds of eye injuries related to costumes and masks are treated in emergency rooms.  

These tips are shared from:

Halloween Costumes Can Be Dangerous

Make sure your ghosts and goblins can see and be seen:

  • Many parts of a costume can block vision
  • Secure hats, scarves, wigs, etc. which may flop over and cover the eyes
  • Enlarge eye holes in masks to maximize field of vision (peripheral vision)
  • Caution your youngsters:  pointed spears and wands can injure someone else's eye
  • Wear bright colored clothing/costumes, use reflective tape to increase nighttime visibility
  • Bring flashlights to prevent falls and trips, but also make you more noticeable to drivers
  • Avoid bicycles, scooters, or other devices; they can tangle up the costume and cause an accident
  • Both trick-or-treaters and drivers must obey traffic signals
  • Trick-or-treaters should use crosswalks at intersections and avoid darting out between parked cars
  • Halloween parties might be a safer alternative to traditional door-to-door visiting

Cosmetic Contact Lenses and MakeUp

  • Apply a hypoallergenic makeup
  • Cold cream can be used instead of soap to remove makeup
  • Cosmetic lenses - those that can change the appearance of your eyes can cause serious damage.  They should be scrutinized as any other contact lens which are true medical devices.  Improper use of any contact lens can cause:  bacterial infections, redness, swelling, pain, corneal abrasions, corneal ulcers and permanent vision loss (including blindness)
  • Decorative or cosmetic lenses have been found to contain chlorine.  Colorants or patterns can be pressed into the contact lenses to achieve the desired effect.  These can cause irregular and abrasive surfaces and scratch the eye.
  • CAUTION: you do not know what you are putting in your eye with cosmetic/decorative contact lenses
  • Do not use any contact lenses (costume or otherwise) which have not been obtained without a prescription
  • Do not share contact lenses

Be safe!  Happy Halloween from Whitten Laser Eye.  Protect your eyes.  

Shilpa Rose, M.D.
Vision Correction & Dry Eye Specialist

Mark Whitten, M.D.
Vision Correction Surgeon
LASIK, Cataract & Raindrop

The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider. 

These are surgical procedures and results may vary. While infrequent, complications can occur. Before your procedure, you will read an Informed Consent document which discusses potential complications and risks. Dr. Whitten will thoroughly review this information with you and answer your questions.