Avoid Halloween Horror and Keep Your Eyes Safe

Halloween is all about spooky fun, but when it comes to your eyes, there's nothing festive about a real life fright. Each year, Halloween goers ignore warnings about the hidden dangers of costume contact lenses sold without a prescription.

These decorative lenses may seem like the perfect finishing touch to your costume, but they can be terrifyingly unsafe. Illegally sold cosmetic contacts, often found online or in novelty stores, may not be sterile or properly fitted for your eyes. Even a single night of wear can lead to eye infections, corneal scratches, ulcers or even permanent vision loss.

At Gulf Coast Vision Center, we want your Halloween to be filled with treats, not trips to the emergency room. Here's how to keep your eyes healthy while still having fun:

👁️‍🗨️ Halloween Eye Safety Tips

1. Never buy contact lenses without a prescription. Even costume lenses must be prescribed and fitted by a licensed eye doctor.
   
2. Avoid buying lenses from beauty stores, gas stations or online vendors that don't require a valid prescription.
   
3. Keep your lenses clean if you have prescription lenses for costumes, follow the cleaning and storage instructions carefully.
   
4. Don’t share contacts with friends. Sharing lenses can transfer harmful bacteria between eyes.
   
5. If your eyes become red, painful or blurry, remove the lenses immediately and call your eye doctor.

Ask us about safe options for decorative lenses this spooky season, or schedule your annual eye exam at any of our six Gulf Coast Vision Center locations. 👻 Have a fun, safe, and spooky Halloween from all of us at Gulf Coast Vision Center!