Top medical pros advise those dressing up for Halloween to be careful about getups around the eyes

Over one million people have signed a Change.org petition calling for a day off from school on the day after Halloween. Image via Quoron Walker of the Courant Community.

It can be fun to dress up in a favorite costume for Halloween. But sometimes, the outfit can go too far and pose health hazards.

Spooky makeup around the eyes and, more importantly, decorative contact lenses, in particular, can cause more discomfort than some Halloween participants bargain for. The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Florida Society of Ophthalmology (FSO) are advising those taking getting down with Halloween get-ups to be extra careful around the eyes this year.

“Costume contact lenses may seem like the perfect, easy way to complete your spooky look. But the consequences of using costume lenses are much scarier than the zombie eye you may have been going for,” said Dianna Seldomridge, clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Contact lenses that are not custom-fitted for the eyes can cause damage. At worst, they can scratch a person’s cornea, which could lead to infection and bacteria getting into the eye. Ultimately, this could cause scarring and even require surgery or a cornea transplant to correct. It could be a painful and costly situation or even blindness.

Many costume lenses bill themselves as “one size fits all.”  However, experts say no contact lens offers such variety.

“There is no such thing as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ contact lens. Your eyes are as unique as you are so it is critical that you have a prescription for costume or colored contact lenses that were fitted for you,” said Ahad Mahootchi, FSO vice president of outreach.

Expert ophthalmologists advise those who partake in Halloween costumes involving the eyes should buy only FDA-approved products. Don’t share contacts, makeup or cosmetics with other people. Use good hygiene before dressing and applying anything to the face or eyes. If you are going to wear costume contact lenses, don’t keep them in for more than four or five hours. And try to refrain from using eyelash extensions.