Halloween Eye Safety: How to Protect Your Eyes While Celebrating
Halloween is an exciting holiday for children and adults alike. Costumes, trick-or-treating, parties and spooky decorations are all part of the fun—but Halloween can also introduce some unexpected risks to your eyes and vision.
From non-prescription costume contact lenses and vision-blocking masks to eye makeup, sharp costume accessories and nighttime falls, Halloween activities can lead to eye irritation or even serious eye injuries.
At Eye Care Professionals in Reno, we want everyone to enjoy Halloween safely. Here are some of the most important Halloween eye safety tips to help protect your eyes and your children’s vision.
Are Halloween Contact Lenses Safe?
Decorative contact lenses are especially popular around Halloween. Colored, theatrical and special-effect contacts can change your eye color or create effects such as cat eyes, vampire eyes or completely black pupils.
But decorative contact lenses are not simply costume accessories. Contact lenses are medical devices, and wearing lenses that haven’t been properly prescribed and fitted by an eye care professional can put your eyes at risk.
Costume contacts purchased online, at costume shops, beauty stores or other retailers without a prescription may not fit the eye properly. Poorly fitting or improperly used contacts can scratch the cornea and increase the risk of irritation, infection and other potentially serious complications.
Never share decorative contacts with another person, and don’t assume that lenses are safe simply because they’re advertised as “one size fits all.”
The safest choice is to only wear decorative contact lenses that have been prescribed and properly fitted by an eye care professional.
If you experience eye pain, redness, discharge, sensitivity to light, blurred vision or other changes in your vision after wearing decorative contacts, remove the lenses and contact an eye care professional promptly.
Can Halloween Masks Affect Your Vision?
Yes. Masks, oversized hats, wigs and eye patches can obstruct vision, particularly peripheral vision—your ability to see objects and movement to the sides without turning your head.
Reduced peripheral vision can be especially dangerous for children trick-or-treating after dark. A mask that limits a child’s field of view may make it harder to see cars, curbs, stairs, other trick-or-treaters or obstacles in their path.
Before heading out, make sure your child can see clearly in every direction while wearing their costume. Eye openings should be large enough to provide an unobstructed field of vision, and masks should fit securely so they don’t shift while walking.
If a costume significantly interferes with vision, consider using face paint or makeup instead of a mask.
Be Careful With Halloween Eye Makeup and Glitter
Halloween makeup can transform a costume, but products used around the eyes should be chosen carefully.
Use cosmetics specifically intended for use on the face and follow the manufacturer’s directions regarding use near the eyes. Avoid putting glitter, adhesives or other products too close to the eye, where small particles can get underneath the eyelid and irritate or scratch the surface of the eye.
Never share eye makeup, brushes or applicators with other people. At the end of the night, thoroughly remove makeup rather than sleeping in it.
If makeup gets into the eye, rinse the eye gently with clean water. Persistent pain, redness or changes in vision should be evaluated by an eye doctorl.
Avoid Sharp or Pointed Costume Accessories
Toy swords, wands, canes, pitchforks and other pointed costume accessories can cause serious eye injuries, especially when children are running or playing in groups.
Choose soft or flexible costume accessories whenever possible. Props should not have sharp edges or pointed ends, and children should understand that costume props should never be swung or pointed toward another person’s face.
Even a toy that seems harmless can cause significant damage if it strikes the eye.
Make Sure Costumes Don’t Create a Tripping Hazard
A Halloween costume doesn’t have to cover the eyes to put vision at risk. Long capes, robes, dresses, scarves and other loose materials can cause someone to trip and fall.
Make sure costumes fit properly and don’t drag on the ground. Shoes should also fit securely and allow children to walk comfortably.
Falls are particularly concerning when children are walking in unfamiliar areas or navigating steps, curbs and uneven sidewalks after dark.
Bring a Flashlight While Trick-or-Treating
Visibility is one of the simplest ways to make Halloween safer.
Children and accompanying adults should carry flashlights when trick-or-treating after dark. A flashlight makes it easier to spot curbs, steps, landscaping and uneven pavement while also making trick-or-treaters more visible to drivers.
Reflective tape, glow sticks or other reflective elements can also be incorporated into costumes and treat bags to improve visibility.
Skip Bikes, Scooters and Skateboards While Wearing a Costume
Bikes, scooters, skateboards and rollerblades can become more dangerous when combined with costumes.
Masks may reduce peripheral vision, while capes and loose clothing can become tangled in wheels or other moving parts. Costumes can also restrict normal movement and make it more difficult to react quickly to an obstacle.
Save the wheels for another day and walk while trick-or-treating.
What Are the Most Common Halloween Risks to Your Eyes?
Many Halloween eye injuries and problems are preventable. Some of the biggest risks to watch for include:
- Wearing decorative or colored contact lenses without a prescription and professional fitting
- Masks, wigs, hats or eye patches that obstruct peripheral vision
- Sharp or pointed costume props
- Glitter, makeup or adhesives getting into the eyes
- Trips and falls caused by poorly fitting costumes or limited visibility
- Eye injuries caused by toys, props or other objects during Halloween activities
- Poor visibility while walking outdoors after dark
Parents should check children’s costumes before leaving home and make sure they can see clearly, walk comfortably and move safely.
What Should You Do If You Injure Your Eye on Halloween?
Some eye injuries require prompt medical attention. Don’t ignore symptoms simply because an injury initially seems minor.
Contact your pediatrician or child’s eye doctor if your kiddo experiences significant eye pain, persistent redness, swelling, sensitivity to light, discharge, blurred or decreased vision, or the feeling that something is stuck in the eye.
If an object has penetrated the eye or there has been significant trauma, do not attempt to remove the object or rub the eye. Seek emergency medical care immediately.
Protect Your Family’s Vision This Halloween
A few simple precautions can help make Halloween safer without taking away any of the fun. Pay particular attention to anything that touches the eyes, obstructs vision or could potentially strike the eye.
Choose costumes that allow a clear field of vision, avoid non-prescription decorative contact lenses, select safe costume accessories, use eye-area cosmetics carefully and make sure children can see and be seen while trick-or-treating.
Eye Care Professionals provides comprehensive eye care for patients throughout Reno and northern Nevada. If you have concerns about your vision or an eye injury—or if it’s time for a comprehensive eye exam—contact our team to schedule an appointment.
Have a safe, spooky and eye-healthy Halloween!
