Costume Lenses This Halloween? 3 Checks Before You Wear Them
By Shawn Au, Optometrist
Cat eyes, white-outs, glowing red. Costume lenses can finish a Halloween look in seconds, and coloured lenses are popular all year round for parties and photos.
But a costume lens is still a contact lens. It sits on the front of your eye, just like the lenses people wear to see clearly, so the same care applies. Here are three checks before you put them in.
Costume lenses are still contact lenses
A lens that doesn't fit your eye well can rub the clear front surface of the eye. Thicker tinted lenses may also let less oxygen through, and lenses that are shared or not cleaned properly can lead to infection.
Check 1: Get fitted by a registered optometrist
Even if you don't need a prescription, have the lenses fitted first. Eyes come in different sizes and curves, and a fitting checks three things:
- Size: the lens matches the curve of your eye.
- Fit: it moves a little when you blink, but stays centred.
- Eye health: your eyes are healthy enough for contact lenses.
Check 2: Never share or swap lenses
Not with friends, not for one night. Sharing lenses passes germs from one eye to another. Keep to a few simple habits:
- Wear your own pair only.
- Keep the lens case clean and replace it every 1 to 3 months.
- Use fresh solution every time, and never rinse lenses or the case with tap water.
- Don't sleep in lenses unless they are made for it.
Check 3: Red, painful or blurry? Take them out
If your eye turns red, hurts or your vision goes blurry, take the lenses out straight away and don't put them back in. Get your eyes checked the same day, and bring the lenses and case with you so we can see what happened.
Have fun this Halloween, and keep your eyes safe. If you'd like coloured or costume lenses fitted properly, we're happy to help at either branch. Read more about our contact lens services.
Shawn Au, Optometrist, EMME Visioncare