The Dangers of Halloween and Novelty Contact Lenses

There are few things in life better than shocking friends with bold choices that stir things up from the everyday routines. The whole point of drastically-colored contact lenses is to add a little drama into a night out, and often you’ll see them used around Halloween so would-be vampires, werewolves and crazy clowns get that added authenticity into their costume. Unfortunately these cheap novelty lenses just aren’t safe enough to be used at any time of the year, and the FDA has made this clear around the United States. We recommend using FreshLook ColorBlends along with a proper eye exam instead to ward off some of the more common conditions you may come against when going the extra mile for your ensemble.

Ocular Infection October

If people aren’t used to wearing contact lenses, then they’re opening themselves up to a whole host of potential dangers just by putting the actual lens in—even with the help of a professional, the process can still go awry. Nails can accidentally scratch the eye, leaving tiny sores which can quickly collect bacteria. Once you finally do get the lens in, costume contacts have been known to cause the abrasions just by being up against the eye which most commonly can lead to keratitis, an eye infection which can lead to vision loss in around 60% of cases. While this is obviously more of a worst case scenario, it makes more sense to do the research and buy a safe, FDA approved product like FreshLook ColorBlends so you can rest assured and have fun at costume parties every month. Also, the patterns on the actual lenses themselves increase the thickness and creates a barrier for oxygen to penetrate the outermost layers. This can damage your sight and make the time wearing the contacts incredibly uncomfortable. Itchy and watering eyes will definitely detract from your image as a futuristic space princess.

Scratched corneas, ulcers and other serious eye problems can also be brought on by taking care of even prescribed contacts incorrectly, and the colored ones sold over the counter aren’t even approved by the FDA. While it’s technically illegal, they’re still easily found online—especially around Halloween time. These lenses are not sized for your eyes and not designed for comfort and usability. Oversized contacts can cause blood vessels to be begin to grow into the cornea or further irritation to the eyeball.

A Better Way

Lenses used for any reason need to be worn with a prescription. This is not propaganda: this is to avoid improper use and unnecessary loss of sight from those who use them. Thankfully, you can still get contact lenses if you have perfect eyesight, and maybe you’ve just always wanted to see what you’ve looked like with green eyes. A professional can fit your lenses and make sure you understand the best possible instructions to care for them.
When a doctor examines you to be fitted for contacts, they’re looking for both the chemical makeup of your eye as well as your overall eye health. You can expect to have several tests done before you receive the prescription such as whether or not you have dry eyes or certain allergies. It’s incredibly common to drink too much and then fall asleep in contacts, which is so bad for your eyes. The contact will feel glued on to the eyeball itself and prevent proper circulation in your eyes as you sleep. A doctor can help you with tips like carrying a spare case filled with disinfecting solution in a purse can help people avoid having their eye problems be the only thing they remember about that night.

FreshLook ColorBlends is one alternative to getting that distinctive look without exposing yourself to potential hazards. The range of colors on offer can be used for a variety of different personas you may want to try, from the subtle to the truly eye-catching. Whether you need vision correction with colored lenses or you just want the aesthetic appeal of them, you can’t go wrong with the ColorBlends.