Monarch Bay Optometry | Dana Point, California
Cat eyes. Vampire eyes. White-out eyes. Bright red eyes.
Halloween costumes have become incredibly creative, and colored contact lenses can make a costume look amazing.
But before you or your teenager clicks “add to cart” on a pair of inexpensive costume contacts, there’s something important you should know:
Decorative contact lenses aren’t makeup. They are medical devices.
Even if they have no prescription power and you have perfect vision, colored and decorative contacts still sit directly on the surface of your eyes.
That means Halloween is one holiday where the wrong accessory can turn a fun night into an unexpected visit to the eye doctor.
“But They Don’t Correct My Vision. Why Would I Need a Prescription?”
This is probably the biggest misconception about Halloween contacts.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, decorative contacts are medical devices and require an eye examination and prescription, even when they don’t correct vision.
Read the FDA’s information about decorative contact lenses
Why?
Because contact lenses aren’t one-size-fits-all.
The shape and size of your eye matter. A poorly fitting lens can irritate or injure the surface of the eye.
That’s also why a proper contact lens exam and fitting is important, even when someone wants contacts primarily to change their appearance.
Did You Know?
A decorative contact lens is still a contact lens even if it has ZERO vision correction.
The FDA regulates decorative contacts as medical devices.
That inexpensive pair of vampire eyes deserves a little more thought than the fake fangs.
Where Should You NOT Buy Halloween Contacts?
The FDA warns against purchasing decorative lenses from sellers that don’t require a prescription. That includes places such as beauty supply stores, flea markets and Halloween stores.
See the FDA’s contact lens care and decorative lens recommendations
A legitimate seller should require a valid contact lens prescription.
Parents, This One Is Especially Important for Teens
A teenager may think:
“They’re just colored contacts. Everyone online wears them.”
That’s exactly why this deserves a conversation before Halloween.
Contacts can look completely harmless in a package. But a lens that doesn’t fit properly or isn’t handled hygienically can cause significant irritation and potentially serious eye problems.
If your teen wants colored contacts for a Halloween costume, don’t automatically say no.
Instead, do it safely.
An eye doctor can determine whether contact lenses are appropriate, properly fit the lenses and teach your teen how to insert, remove and care for them correctly.
At Monarch Bay Optometry in Dana Point, our contact lens evaluations include assessing eye health and taking measurements to help determine an appropriate lens fit.
And one more rule:
Never share decorative contact lenses with friends.
Eyes and toothbrushes have something in common. Sharing isn’t caring.
Makeup Can Cause Halloween Eye Problems Too
Contacts aren’t the only Halloween concern.
Elaborate makeup, glitter, adhesives and face paints often end up very close to the eyes.
The FDA recommends checking whether cosmetics are intended for use around the eyes and keeping eye cosmetics clean.
Read the FDA’s eye cosmetic safety recommendations
A few smart Halloween habits can help:
- Keep products not intended for the eye area away from the eyes.
- Don’t share eye makeup.
- Be careful with applicators around the eye.
- Wash and thoroughly dry your hands before handling contact lenses.
- Put contacts in before applying eye makeup.
- Remove contacts before removing makeup.
Glitter Deserves Special Attention
Glitter may complete a costume, but loose particles around the eyes can become irritating.
If something gets into your eye, resist the temptation to aggressively rub it.
If discomfort, redness or the sensation that something is stuck in your eye persists, have the eye evaluated.
Know When a Red Eye Is More Than Just Irritation
After a late Halloween night, a little fatigue is expected.
Eye pain isn’t.
If you wear decorative or regular contact lenses and develop significant redness, persistent pain, discharge, light sensitivity or decreased vision, remove the lenses and contact an eye doctor promptly.
You can learn more about emergency eye care at Monarch Bay Optometry.
Don’t simply put the contacts back in the next morning to see whether things improve.
Halloween Should Be Scary. Your Eye Exam Shouldn’t Be.
We love Halloween, and we aren’t trying to ruin anyone’s costume.
Wear the dramatic makeup. Be a vampire. Be a zombie. Be whatever incredibly specific character your teenager has to explain to you three times.
Just protect your eyes while you’re doing it.
If you or your teen would like to wear colored or decorative contact lenses, our contact lens exams at Monarch Bay Optometry can help determine whether contact lens wear is appropriate and properly fitted.
Have a Safe and Happy Halloween From Monarch Bay Optometry!
Our team at Monarch Bay Optometry wishes all of our Dana Point and South Orange County families a fun, safe and very spooky Halloween.
If you need a comprehensive eye examination, contact lens evaluation or have an eye that suddenly becomes red or uncomfortable, contact our office.
Your Halloween look should get attention. Your irritated eyes shouldn’t.
Schedule an appointment at Monarch Bay Optometry in Dana Point
