Eye Safety Tips

Halloween is a holiday that we always look forward to. It is a time for costumes, trick-or-treating and parties! As Optometrists it is pretty much the only time during the year that I can make creepy eyeball themed desserts and not have it be weird! Even though Halloween can be a lot of fun, it can also be quite dangerous. Every year several hundred trips are made to the ER for eye-related injuries stemming from Halloween costumes, masks and makeup. Seeing as October is also eye health and safety month there are plenty of things that we can do to help protect our eyes and prevent injuries and infections.

Here are some of my Halloween 101 EYE Safety TIPS:

1. Avoid props that are pointed or sharp such as swords or wands which may harm other children’s eyes.

2. If you are going trick-or-treating, ensure that costumes are bright and reflective for increased visibility by drivers.

3. Use makeup with care. Costume makeup can often be a lot thicker and heavier than regular makeup. Be sure to use hypoallergenic makeup and avoid the eyes if possible. At our office we carry dry eye friendly makeup that is long lasting but not irritating to the eyes. Have wipes handy to clean your child’s face should the makeup begin to melt or run down their face during the course of the evening. If using false eyelashes be sure to follow the instructions.

4. Be careful when using decorative contact lenses. Contact lenses are medical devices and can cause vision loss if not used safely. We have a selection of optometrist approved Halloween costume lenses at our office that we can help fit you with to add the perfect finishing touch to an awesome costume!

For our fellow Halloween enthusiasts out there have fun creating those spooktacular costumes but stay safe and don’t let an eye infection be the scariest part of your Halloween.