Thinking of Colored Contacts for Halloween? Be Cautious!
Colored contact lenses might complete your spooky Halloween look, but they could damage your eyes, experts say.
“I advise against non-prescription colored contact lenses for Halloween as I have seen a number of corneal abrasions or scratches resulting from their use,” Miel Sundararajan, MD, an assistant professor and cornea specialist at the University of Washington Department of Ophthalmology, told Verywell Health.
Sundararajan said these cases can progress into more severe infections, some even resulting in blindness.
While prescription colored contact lenses may be safer due to their custom fit and professional oversight, they still come with certain risks, according to Sundararajan.
Poor hygiene practices—such as sleeping, swimming, or showering while wearing contact lenses, failing to wash hands, or reusing contact lenses or solution improperly—can result in corneal abrasions or severe infections like corneal ulcers, Sundararajan added.
What to Do If You Experience Discomfort After Wearing Colored Contact Lenses
If you experience any discomfort or pain after wearing colored contact lenses, it’s important to monitor your symptoms. Go to an eye care professional if you notice the following:
- Persistent redness that lasts more than a few hours or worsens
- Ongoing pain, discomfort, or a gritty sensation in your eye, along with any discharge
- Blurred vision
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Swelling of the eyelids
If you do not see an improvement within 24 hours after removing your lenses and using artificial tears, you should schedule an appointment with an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
“These practitioners are able to examine the eye with a specialized piece of equipment called a slit lamp, which provides important diagnostic information,” Sundararajan said.