A great way to take a Halloween costume or cosplay outfit to the next level is with costume contact lenses.

However, unlike every other piece of a costume, contact lenses are medical devices, so we need to take special care to make sure we buy ones that are safe and fit properly. Here are a few important tips to follow when it comes to these specialty lenses.

Even Non-Corrective Contact Lenses Are Still Medical Devices

Most people who wear contact lenses need them to correct a vision problem, but even when they’re just for show, they still count as medical devices. That’s why it’s essential to get a prescription before buying them, even if the prescription is only for the fit. (That’s right, contact lenses are not one-size-fits-all, and it’s important to get them in the right size for your eye so that they don’t slip or scratch your cornea.)

Be Careful Who You Buy Your Contacts From

A good red flag to be aware of when buying costume contacts is whether or not they require a prescription before selling to you. If they don’t, they’re violating US law, and who knows what other regulations they’re breaking when it comes to the safety, sanitation, and quality of their lenses. If they do require a prescription, it’s a good sign that they’re trustworthy, and it’s worth paying a little more to get lenses you can be confident are safe.

The Proper Care and Handling of Your Costume Lenses

Once you have your prescription costume contacts from a reliable vendor, it’s critical to take good care of them and follow the instructions on how to use them safely so that you minimize the risk of eye infection. Follow these tips to protect your eyes:

• Before handling the contacts, thoroughly wash your hands.
• Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes while the contacts are in.
• ONLY use fresh contact solution to clean your contacts. (Do NOT use water, do NOT recycle cleaning solution, and absolutely do NOT use saliva. You definitely don’t want oral bacteria getting into your eyes.)
• Only wear the contact lenses as long as the instructions recommend, and replace them as often as the instructions indicate. This is particularly important for the large scleral lenses that cover more of the eye, because they allow less oxygen to reach the cornea.
• Stay hydrated and use contact-friendly eyedrops as needed, especially with scleral lenses.

Get in Touch for a Contact Lens Prescription

We want our patients to be able to achieve their wildest Halloween costume or cosplay goals, so make sure to schedule an appointment to get a contact lens prescription if you don’t already have one or if your old one is out of date. We can’t wait to hear about your costume, and make sure you send us pictures when it’s finished!

Have a safe and spooky Halloween, everyone!

Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.