Halloween Safety Month

Halloween Safety Month: Don’t Risk Your Sight with Costume Contact Lenses

October is Halloween Safety Month, a time to remind everyone how important it is to protect and care for your eyes. One of the biggest—and often overlooked—risks to eye health comes from wearing costume or decorative contact lenses purchased without a prescription.

While these lenses may seem like a fun accessory for parties, cosplay, or Halloween, they can cause serious and sometimes permanent eye damage when not properly fitted or prescribed by an eye care professional.

The Hidden Dangers of Non-Prescription Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are medical devices, not fashion accessories. When bought without a prescription, they often:

• Don’t fit properly, causing scratches on the cornea
• Are made with poor-quality materials that block oxygen from reaching your eye
• Can harbor bacteria or toxins, leading to painful infections
• May cause allergic reactions or corneal ulcers

Even a short time wearing these lenses can result in redness, pain, blurry vision, and—in severe cases—permanent vision loss.

Prescription Lenses = Safe Lenses

Whether you need them for vision correction or cosmetic use, all contact lenses require a valid prescription from an optometrist or ophthalmologist. During an eye exam, your doctor ensures the lenses fit your eye properly and teaches you how to wear and care for them safely.

Only purchase lenses from:

• Licensed eye care professionals
• Reputable retailers that require a valid prescription

Protect Your Vision This Healthy Vision Month

Your eyes deserve the same care as the rest of your body. Here’s how you can keep them healthy:

• Never share or trade contact lenses
• Clean and store lenses properly
• Replace lenses and cases as directed
• Schedule regular comprehensive eye exams
• Avoid costume lenses sold in beauty stores, gas stations, or online without a prescription

Final Thoughts

Your eyes are irreplaceable—don’t risk them for a quick look or a costume.
This Healthy Vision Month, take a stand for safe and healthy vision. If you want to change your eye color or try decorative lenses, talk to your eye doctor first. A proper prescription and fitting can help you look great without putting your sight at risk.

Protect your eyes. Get a prescription. Keep your vision healthy.