Eye Safety for Halloween

Halloween has become a favorite time of year for folks young and old to ‘dress up’ and along with that comes the need to remind adults and parents of some eye safety tips.

1. DECORATIVE CONTACT LENSES – sometimes referred to as theatrical or costume lenses, it is important to remember these are medical devices and unless prescribed by an eye care professional, avoid them. They are regulated by the FDA, but many people buy them in salons or flea markets and they can do more harm than good to your eyes. Whether you need corrective lenses for vision or not, these must be prescribed by an eye care professional they can damage your eyes without a proper fitting.

2. MASKS – masks may be an important part of your costume, but use caution to ensure that your visibility is not impaired. Pirate costumes are popular for all age groups, but using only one eye to see can be dangerous.

If you or your child must wear a mask, make certain the eye holes are large enough to ensure good visibility. This may mean making the holes larger, but it will be worth the effort to help with safety.

Parents should think of an alternative using makeup to aid their children’s ability to see properly while still enjoying their outing.

3. WIGS & HATS – can impair your vision so use caution when using either of these. They can slip or turn and block your field of vision so make certain they are securely in place.

4. MAKEUP – while makeup is a good alternative to a mask, patients should check to ensure that it is hypoallergenic and FDA approved. Also be careful to avoid the eye area as it could cause an irritation to this sensitive area.

Use caution as well when applying false eyelashes as the glue can get into the eye area and cause damage and irritation.

5. PROPS – if part of your child’s costume is a sword, wand or anything stick-like, make sure it is made of a flexible material so they don’t injure themselves or others.

6. COSTUMES – while an all black (or dark) costume may be perfect for your children’s character, it makes them very hard to see at night or in a crowd. At a minimum, make certain to have reflective tape on their clothes.

7. TREATS – it’s important that children understand they should not eat anything on their route but should bring it home for an adult to inspect. Any items that are not age-appropriate (peanuts, small candies) for the child or if it appears tampered in any way, should be thrown away. Better to err on the side of caution than to have a problem.

The doctors and staff at D’Ambrosio Eye Care wish you a fun-filled and safe Halloween!