Halloween contact lens warning: Novelty lenses ‘unlikely to meet safety standards’

Eye health specialists are warning members of the public wanting to complete their Halloween costume with a set of spooky contact lenses to think twice before purchasing cheap ‘knock offs’ from small retailers over the next few weeks. Google trends data shows that UK searches for ‘cheap contact lenses’ have increased on average by more than a third in October alone compared to the rest of the year for the past three years in a row and this trend is expected to continue in 2019. With more and more people visiting their GP’s with bacterial infections, eye ulcers and discharge at this time of the year as a result of low cost lenses, experts advise doing your research if you must have a set of coloured lenses to complete your costume this Halloween.

Eye care specialist, Ashish Mathur at Feel Good Contacts said: “Many people cite the Twilight movies for the rise in popularity for coloured contact lenses, however, even more than a decade on it’s clear they have stood the test of time and remain a popular option for many at Halloween.

“However, the past few years have seen the rise of rogue traders looking to make a profit on those looking for a cheaper option or simply aren’t aware of the dangers of cheap lenses, with margins being squeezed for mass production and quality care and the risk of infections also suffering as a result.

“The novelty lenses commonly stocked in high street corner shops are highly unlikely to have passed the same levels of safety standards reputable contact lens manufacturers are required to abide by.”

Potentially serious contact lens complications include corneal abrasions, eye infection, dry eyes and corneal ulcers.

The best defence against eye damage from contact lens wear is to follow the advice of your optometrist about how long to wear your contacts and how frequently your should replace them.

Those flirting with these low cost lenses and not properly checking where they are being manufactured are taking serious risks with their eye health

Eye care specialist, Ashish Mathur at Feel Good Contacts

“Those flirting with these low cost lenses and not properly checking where they are being manufactured are taking serious risks with their eye health and I encourage people to think carefully before making a purchase,” added Ashish.

Top tips for wearing contact lenses this Halloween:

Buy your lenses from a reputable supplier

Many high street corner shops and small retailers will stock cheap coloured contact lenses around Halloween time.

However, these may not abide by the same safety standards as a reputable contact lens retailer and could put your eyes at risk of an infection.

Use common sense and speak to a retailer that specialises in eye health or contact lenses to ensure the product your purchasing has passed the required safety checks and is legitimate.

Don’t buy cheap lenses to save money

‘You get what your pay for’ really rings true when it comes to knock off contact lenses and you can’t really put a price on your eyes.

Over-the-counter lenses are unlikely to have met the same safety standards or have been made by trusted manufacturers.

With this in mind, it’s best to spend a little more money to ensure your safety.

Practice good hand hygiene

When applying and removing your contact lenses, you must always follow good hand hygiene practices.

Before inserting your lenses, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water and dry them with a lint-free towel.

Before removing your contact lenses, wash your hands again before removing them for your eyes.

Store them properly

If you plan on wearing your Halloween contact lenses after Halloween, or multiple times leading to the day, make sure to store them properly in fresh contact lens solution and a clean contact lens case.

Remember to take them out before you go to sleep

One of the common problems, particularly with those who only wear them once a year, is that you may forget to take them out before going out to bed.

Make sure to set a reminder if you think you may forget to take them out before you fall asleep as leaving them in overnight can cause serious irritation or infection, and they can be a nightmare to get out the following morning.

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