Halloween Contact Lenses

Safety considerations for Halloween contact lenses

If you're interested in temporarily changing your eye colour for Halloween, the same level of care applies as with normal contact lenses. Learn more about potential risks and how to keep it safe this spooky season with Clearly.

Get a contact lens eye exam if you haven't had one in the past year.

Your eye doctor will check your eyes to ensure the contact lenses fit properly. The fit of your contact lenses matters for your vision and comfort. Ill-fitting contacts could cause a stinging, burning, itching sensation and other symptoms including excessive tearing of the eyes, unusual eye discharge, red eyes, and dry eyes. Having a contact lens eye exam will reduce the risks of any undetected damage to your eyes.

You need a valid prescription for contact lenses.

Your contact lens prescription is not the same as your glasses prescription. That's because your glasses rest about 12 millimetres from your eyes, while your contacts sit directly on your eyes. Your prescription should contain information on your lens measurements (such as base curve and diameter), corrective power, contact lens brand name, and expiration date. You'll need this information to order contact lenses online.

Follow proper contact lens hygiene to avoid infection.

The best way to take care of your contact lenses is to follow your doctor's instructions for wearing, cleaning and disinfecting your contacts. Always wash your hands before handling contact lenses. Clean your contacts with the contact lens solution prescribed by your eye doctor (never reuse old solution). It is imperative for eye health that you do not overwear your lenses. Always ask your eye doctor for contact lens care instructions.

Remove your Halloween contact lenses and seek immediate medical attention if your eyes become red, or experience ongoing pain or discharge.

These symptoms may be a result of infection and should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.

Do not share your contact lenses with others.

Even if you and your best friend have the same prescription, it is dangerous to share contact lenses, especially coloured ones. Because they are slightly thicker than regular contacts, the risk of getting an eye infection is higher. Not to mention contact lenses are not one size fits all; ill-fitting contacts can irritate your eyes, risking the development of corneal ulcers, which may result in loss of vision or blindness.

Don't sleep in your Halloween contacts.

When you wear your contacts longer than prescribed, your eyes are not getting the oxygen they need to stay healthy. Sleeping in contacts increases the risk of getting an eye infection, corneal ulcer, or conjunctivitis. Your eyes need a break and sleep provides the best opportunity for that.

Don't buy contacts from a street vendor, beauty supply store, flea market, novelty store, or Halloween store.

Wearing any type of contact lenses can be risky if not used correctly. It is safer to shop from a reputable retailer. If you find a lower price, we'll match it. At Clearly, all products sold offer high breathability and are compliant to health and safety regulations.