With its extraordinary dressing up and trick or treating, Halloween is scary-good fun for everyone. However, the fun can turn tragic if you take the wrong approach, particularly for your eye safety. Every year, emergency rooms in the U.S. receive hundreds of eye injuries related to Halloween masks and costumes. Fortunately, you can take steps to ensure you and your little ones enjoy a memorable, tragedy-free night.

You must ensure your safety if you and your kids love dressing up for Halloween. Whether you plan to go trick-or-treating with them or go to a party with other grown-ups, you should remember the following eye safety tips:

Pick the Right Costume

One of the essential components of Halloween is the costumes. People spend considerable time and effort choosing the perfect outfit or costume. The last thing you want is for your scary costume, or your child’s costume, to become a real-life nightmare.

Some costume accessories, such as wigs and masks, can block the eyes or cause unexpected eye injuries. You or your child cannot walk safely if you cannot see where you are going. So, ensure any costume you choose does not block the eyes or affect peripheral vision. If you or your kids wear glasses, ensure the costume accommodates eyeglasses.

Decorative Contact Lenses

You must be very careful if you plan to take your costume to the next level by wearing decorative lenses. Eye doctors link various risks with cosmetic lenses, often sold without prescriptions. These risks include corneal abrasion, allergic reactions, infections, and blindness. If you insist upon wearing contacts, get an eye doctor’s prescription.

Pointed Objects

Carrying Halloween props will add to the fun but can also be dangerous. Objects like toy swords, wands, and other accessories can become a hazard, so you should handle them carefully. Do not let your toddlers carry anything that can injure their eyes. Remember that your little ones will be walking in strange costumes, meaning balance might be a problem.

Makeup

Halloween is not complete without makeup. However, you should use the safest products if you decide to use makeup. Apply hypoallergenic products or choose a mask instead of makeup. Avoid the eye area while applying it, and remember that running makeup can get into your child’s eyes and cause injury or infection. Carry a wet towel or washcloth to wipe off any running makeup.

Visibility

Besides being able to see, you should ensure that you and your children are visible to other road users and cars. Choosing reflective or brightly colored costumes or carrying glow sticks as accessories is best. Carry a flashlight when treat-or-treating at night to illuminate dark steps and streets.

Conclusion

Eye injuries and infections can be unsightly, painful, and expensive to treat. Halloween should be fun, but that can only happen if you and your loved ones return home safely. Follow these eye safety tips to ensure you and your children have a night to remember.

For more eye safety tips, visit Advanced Eyecare Center PC at our Urbandale, Iowa office. Call 515-303-4488 to schedule an appointment today.