October is Halloween Safety Month. The end of October festivities means it’s time to welcome some spooky fun like haunted houses, hayrides, trick-or-treating, and costume parties.
Who isn’t looking forward to late-night slasher and horror movie marathons, or carving pumpkins? These are the things that make October one of the best months of the year.
It is important to keep your eyes safe while partaking in these frightening events. Nothing would be worse than a real-life nightmare during the celebration of our deepest and darkest fears.
Keep reading to learn how to keep your eyes safe during your favorite Halloween festivities!
Costume parties are a great way to show off your ghoulish spirit. Some people take them to an extreme by wearing colored contact lenses to change the color of their eyes.
Decorative contact lenses are not the kind of extreme you want to go after. Even if those blood red lenses pull your Count Dracula look together.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) strongly urges Halloween costume party goers to not wear any contact lenses that are not prescribed by an eye doctor. In fact, it is illegal to sell contact lenses that are not medically prescribed.
Decorative cosmetic lenses may not be sterile. Putting non-sterile objects into your eye can cause serious complications.
This could range from an eye infection like conjunctivitis to corneal scratches. It can even lead to vision loss. The negative side effects of these colored contact lenses are not the type of scare you want.
Smoke can irritate your eyes. This is especially true if you suffer from dry eye syndrome.
Smoke and dry ice are prevalent at Halloween parties. Avoiding direct contact with smoke or dry ice can lead to a more enjoyable evening. This will allow you to have a better time and not have eyes that are itchy, watery, or dry!
Another important piece of advice is to make sure your vision is clear at all times. This includes not wearing masks or wigs that make it hard to see.
It also means being cognizant of where you apply makeup and face paint. When you block your vision, you run the risk of poking yourself in the eye with your own costume. Blocking your vision can also cause you to fall or bump into sharp corners.
Many Halloween costumes include sharply pointed props. Be it a sword, knife, wand, or stick, they can become dangerous around your eyes.
Make sure to be aware of the sharp objects and props around you. This is especially important if the sharp object is part of your own costume or someone else’s costume in your group. No need to tell the horrors of getting poked in the eye with a sharp object.
It’s best to leave the long and flowy costumes to the movies. Consider not wearing anything that you can trip over.
This may include long capes or cloaks. These long, flowy costume pieces are easy to trip on or you could trip others as well!
This can be problematic in a crowded area like a Halloween party or on a neighborhood street filled with trick-or-treaters.
Make sure to get your eyes checked before you head out to your Halloween festivities. Schedule an eye exam with Advanced Eye Care in New Lenox, IL today!
