Risks of Wearing New Contact Lenses on Halloween

Eye experts warn of the risks of wearing new contact lenses on Halloween because they can cause unpleasant infections and scratches in the eyes.

Cosmetic contact lenses are often sold in jokes, in costumes and on websites, but do not contain instructions for safe use.

Eye specialists warn that neither the new lenses should be shared, nor stored in tap water or kept overnight.

In extreme cases this can lead to vision problems and loss of vision.

The Optometrist Association said that its members often saw people with eye problems after wearing new glasses.

He said that party participants would only sell glasses sold under the supervision of an ophthalmologist.

Badrul Hussain, a consultant ophthalmologist at the Moorfields Eye Hospital, said he treated patients every year, including children under the age of 16 who had developed eye diseases after wearing contact lenses.He said eye problems around Halloween would increase.

"Some cases we see, like patients who share glasses with friends, have the same year after year after their lifetime, and store them in tap water have devastating effects," he said. 

"If you do not know the basic principles of using contact lenses, you can increase the risk of developing painful eye damage and, in the worst case scenario, the risk of permanent vision loss."

How to safely use new contact lenses

■ Make sure that a registered optician checks w

hether the lenses are in place

■ Clean the lenses using the recommended contact lens solution

■ Do not keep the glasses all night long

■ Do not exchange or share with other people

■ Do not touch water, shower or pool

■ Know the law: It is illegal to sell contact lenses without the supervision of a registered professional.