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Halloween is a time for fun and good times and no one wants to spoil that; but if you’re thinking of accessorising your spooky get-up with a pair of cosmetic lenses, you might want to consider a few facts regarding these not so harmless costume accessories. They might appear to be just a bit of fun but they can actually cause you a host of rather nasty issues. What Are Cosmetic Lenses? Marketed as eyewear that can change the colour and the shape of your eye, these accessories are sometimes sold as theatre or decorative lenses. They don’t change your vision and can be bought online or from a beauty salon without a prescription, so are often considered harmless. Not only that, they are popular at this time of year when the ghoul and goblin costumes are coming out of the cupboard. There are, however, a few things you need to be aware of before you try them. Why Are they Different? Your eyes are a precious gift. When you consider how much most people invest in their eyes, it seems silly to then go and put them at risk. Anyone who already wears contacts will know that when they first started using them, the optician taught them how to insert, remove and take care of their new eyewear. On top of this, the lenses would have been carefully selected depending on the wearer’s requirements. We must remember that there is a reason why glasses (and eyewear in general) are so expensive, and that is down to the careful manufacturing and meticulous design - two elements that novelty contacts cannot claim. The Dangers The dangers of not having a proper eye test and just going ahead and wearing unprescribed novelty lenses can be serious. At the very least some people report pain or discomfort, and others have issues with scratching on the cornea and eye infections. Scarring and irritation, cornea ulcers and even blindness are among the longer lasting associated issues. As these lenses are often made cheaply and from unlicensed materials, they have been known to contain dangerous substances such as lead. They are usually packaged in unsanitized packaging and so almost always carry some form of harmful bacteria, too. You really don’t want your Halloween nightmares to become a reality, so make sure you know exactly what you’re buying before you make the purchase. Buying Tips Have an Eye Test It’s really important that you have an eye test with a qualified optician before you even consider decorative lenses. The expert will examine you and give you a prescription that has details of fitting and eye shape. The optician will also help you get comfortable with inserting and removing the contact as well as teaching you how to take care of them. Order Wisely Make sure that what you are ordering is what actually arrives on your doorstep. Check that every detail of the prescription has been adhered to. Also, you should only buy from a responsible retailer. Anyone who knows what they’re doing will always ask for a prescription and this is your clue that their product is legitimate. Be Clean Clean and look after your eyewear carefully. If you don’t know how, make sure you find out, before you put yourself at risk from harmful bacterial infections. Follow-Up If you wear these cosmetic contacts frequently, make sure you see the optician for an eye test on a regular basis. Don’t Get Spooked this Year! Make the most of your Halloween fun and frolics this year and stay away from novelty lenses. If you really must buy some, however, you now know the potential risks and how to minimise them. First and foremost, get an initial eye test as well as a follow up one. Your sight is definitely worth protecting! Author Plate David Paul opticians epitomise everything you want from a local eyewear specialist. Not only do they offer eye tests, they also provide an expert service that includes OCT testing, advice on buying your ultimate pair of glasses and much more. The team of experienced eyewear specialists and expert optometrists are there to make your glasses and contact lens buying experience the best it can be.
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