1 week Ago By Paige Beresford
EXPERTS have issued an urgent warning to lovers of the spooky season over a "dangerous" Halloween costume accessory that could cause blindness. Every October, people go to great lengths to create incredible costumes for the eeriest night of the year. 3 Coloured contact lenses can be dangerous for your eyes Credit: Getty - Contributor 3 Many buy them from shops to complete their Halloween costumes Credit: Getty Once they have their outfits, trick-or-treaters start looking for the perfect accessories to finish it off as they anticipate the arrival of fright night.
One of the most popular accessories people get is "fashionable" contact lenses to turn eyes red, purple, white, or even all black. Over 67,000 are searching for " Halloween contact lenses" this month - a 46 per cent increase from last year. But now eye experts are warning that picking up the wrong ones could have dire consequences.
READ MORE IN HEALTH DO NOT EAT Urgent 'avoid' alert on 66 'contaminated' dips, sandwiches and wraps DONOR JOY Thanks for giving me chance to live, says teen cancer survivor as he meets donor Tina Patel, Contact Lens Optician at Feel Good Contacts has revealed how the wrong pair could actually cost you your eyesight. And she has urged everyone to proceed with caution if they want to use coloured contact lenses. While coloured lenses may seem fashionable, they can cause serious issues for your eye health if you don’t take proper precautions Tina Patel Contact Lens Optician at Feel Good Contacts She said: "With Halloween fast approaching, those who are considering wearing coloured contact lenses this year should be cautious.
“While coloured lenses may seem fashionable, adding a distinctive element to your costume , they can cause serious issues for your eye health if you don’t take proper precautions. Most read in Health 'LET DOWN' Heartbroken husband slams hospital's 'multiple failings' after wife found dead BE WARMED Urgent warning over 'dangerous' Primark coat that could put babies' lives at risk DEATH'S DOOR Mum, 41, left fighting for life after being told to 'drink water' to cure cold LOVE LETTERS Dad died after flu symptoms - and sent 4 kids letters from beyond the grave “When buying contact lenses of any nature , including Halloween or coloured lenses, you should always buy from a reputable source such as an optician or a certified contact lens retailer, with the appropriate prescription for your eyesight, taking thorough care to maintain and clean them properly.” Tina has shared the five main things to be aware of when buying coloured contact lenses for Halloween costumes.
You’ve apparently been removing your contact lens out wrong but people say the ‘correct’ way will give you eye wrinkles 1. Counterfeit lenses Tina has said that while people might be tempted to source coloured contact lenses from convenient retailers such as Temu and the TikTok shop, without fully researching the products first, this can be dangerous. Although it may be cheaper, the lenses could actually be counterfeit and not fully UKCA approved - which means they haven't passed safety checks to be used in the country.
She added: "Likewise, you should be careful about buying coloured lenses from street vendors, salons, convenience stores or Halloween stores on the high street. "These outlets may not abide by the same high safety standards that reputable contact lens retailers do." 2.
Toxic substances People are usually drawn to coloured contact lenses because of their bright colours. But Tina warns that the colours most associated with Halloween - like red, black, white or even yellow - could contain toxic substances that give it the extra brightness. She said: "Although coloured contact lenses provide a unique shade of bright, bold colour to help add that finishing touch to your costume, they could contain toxic substances that are detrimental to your eyesight.
"Chemicals such as chlorine, fluorine, iron, paints, and other substances can be included in the manufacturing process of many store-bought coloured contact lenses, depending on where you purchase them from." 3 Experts have shared five thing to look out for when using coloured contact lenses Credit: Image Bank - Getty 3. Impaired vision They may look simple, but coloured contact lenses that aren't UKCA-approved can impair your vision.
Tina explained: "Using coloured contact lenses purely to add aesthetic to your outfit without considering the functionality of the product should be avoided. "Whilst they look practical, some coloured lenses can seriously impair your vision, meaning you won’t be able to see properly whilst using them, which can put you at risk of falling or make you vulnerable to other physical hazards. "A lot of users who don’t wear contacts in day-to-day life often won’t follow due care and the manufacturer’s instructions when placing these lenses into their eyes, which can lead to problems taking them out and ultimately result in leaving them for too long.
" How to reduce the risk of eye damage IF anyone is planning on wearing coloured contact lenses for their Halloween costumes, don't panic! There are things you can do to reduce the risk of eye damage and still wear beloved lenses. Tina explains it's all about getting them from safe, trusted opticians and taking good care of both the lenses and your eyes. She says: "There are several ways to reduce the risk of eye damage through coloured contact lenses.
"It begins with getting a prescription and a proper fitting by an optician or eye doctor. "Make sure that care and cleaning instructions are adhered to thoroughly. "Such as disinfecting lenses before placing them in your eyes and only cleaning your lenses with solutions designed for this purpose.
" 4. Eye infections Impaired vision isn't the only possible side effect of dodgy coloured contact lenses - they can also cause eye infections. And this in itself could have horrible repercussions for your eyes.
Tina warns: "If you are thinking that your coloured contacts will ‘complete’ your Halloween outfit, then you maybe want to consider your eye health first. "These lenses often aren’t as breathable as typical prescription lenses, and can also contribute to dry eyes and irritation, putting you at greater risk of developing an infection in your eye. "Coloured contact lenses are known to cause corneal abrasions, ulcers and keratitis, which is a serious eye infection that can often be difficult to treat.
" 5. Vision loss In a worst-case scenario, the lenses could potentially lead to vision loss. Read more on the Scottish Sun GOOD TO GO Ryan Kent FREED by Fenerbahce as contract ripped up 16 months into 4-year deal FESTIVE JOY Six new retailers to land at major Scots shopping centre ahead of Christmas Tina says: "Perhaps a much more serious consequence of wearing coloured contact lenses is your long-term eye health, and whilst these accessories can look trendy and cool at the time, they can cause you to permanently lose your eyesight.
"Whilst not the case every time, coloured lenses can also cause conjunctivitis (pink eye), decrease your vision and progress other serious eye problems.".
