Halloween is right around the corner and it's important to know about eye safety when it comes to selecting your costume.
- Face paint: While makeup may seem harmless enough, there are some things to be aware of. Glitter eye makeup should be avoided because the glitter flakes can get into the eye and cause irritation and often times leads to corneal infection, especially for contact lens wearers.
- Eyelash extensions: It's important to have eyelash extensions applied by a technician in a beauty salon. It involves using a semi-permanent glue and this glue can cause an allergic reaction. Make sure the salon you use has a good reputation with good hygiene practices and that the technician has the proper certification in applying lash extensions.
- Decorative contact lenses: These lenses may add the finishing touch to your costume but they can come at a huge cost to your vision. Decorative contact lenses that aren't fitted properly by an eye care professional can cause a serious eye infection, which can lead to vision loss. It's critical to make sure that the lenses are FDA approved and then fitted by a professional. And, as always, never share contact lenses as this also increases the likelihood of eye infection.
If you experience any signs of eye infection such as redness, swelling, pain or discharge, seek medical help promptly. With the proper precautions taken, dressing up for Halloween doesn't have to be "tricky".
