Halloween Costume Contact Lenses: What You Should Know Before Wearing Them

White eyes, cat eyes, red eyes or spiral patterns: costume contact lenses have become one of the most popular Halloween accessories. The problem is that many people buy them as if they were a wig or a mask, when in fact they are contact lenses, meaning medical devices that rest directly on the cornea. Even if they have no prescription, the risks are the same as with any contact lenses.

Why They Are Not Just Another Accessory

The cornea is the transparent layer at the front of the eye and needs oxygen to stay healthy. A poor-quality contact lens, one with low oxygen permeability or one that does not fit the shape of the eye properly, can rub against it and cause small abrasions. Bacteria or fungi can enter through these wounds and cause keratitis, an infection that, in severe cases, can leave scars and cause permanent vision loss.

The risk increases significantly with contact lenses purchased from costume shops, bazaars, street markets or websites without proper guarantees: it is not known what materials or pigments they are made from, and no one has checked whether they are suitable for the eyes of the person who will wear them.

If You Are Going to Wear Them

1. Buy them from an optician and have an optician-optometrist check that they are suitable for you, even if they have no prescription.
2. Wash and dry your hands thoroughly before putting them in and taking them out.
3. Never share them, not even to let someone try them on for a moment.
4. Wear them for only a few hours and remove them before going to sleep, even if you are very tired when you return from the party.
5. Do not rinse them with tap water or saliva. Use only the appropriate contact lens solution and a clean case.
6. If they are disposable, throw them away after use.

Eye Makeup, Glitter and False Eyelashes

• Use only cosmetic makeup suitable for the eye area. Craft paints or carnival face paints that do not specify this use should not be applied near the eyelids.
• Glitter can get into the eye and scratch the cornea. If you use it, make sure it is cosmetic-grade and keep it away from the edge of the eyelid.
• Put your contact lenses in first and then apply your makeup. When you finish, reverse the order: remove your contact lenses first and then take off your makeup.
• Do not go to bed wearing makeup. Residue along the eyelid margins can cause irritation and styes.
• When using false eyelashes, apply the glue away from the roots of your natural eyelashes.

Costume contact lenses are not recommended for children. For makeup, it is better to use hypoallergenic products, tested beforehand on a small area of skin, and avoid applying makeup to the inner edge of the eyelid.

When to Seek Medical Advice

If, after removing the contact lens, your eye remains red, hurts, is sensitive to light, waters excessively or your vision is blurred, do not put the lens back in and do not cover your eye with a homemade patch. Consult your doctor as soon as possible and, if the symptoms are severe or occur outside normal opening hours, go to the emergency department of the nearest hospital. Bring the contact lens and its packaging: they can help guide the diagnosis.

Book an Appointment at INOF · Teknon Medical Centre, Consulting Rooms 156-159 · Tel. 933 933 156 · WhatsApp 640 310 733 · atencionalpaciente@inof.es