Dressing up for Halloween can be fun for all ages, but it can also spell trouble if you’re not careful.

Decorative contact lenses that change the appearance of your eyes, for example, can damage your cornea and lead to infection—or even permanent vision loss.  The Food and Drug Administration banned over-the-counter sale of such lenses in 2005, yet consumers often buy them online or at places like flea markets, convenience stores, and beauty salons.

“Every year, we see a serious vision-threatening infectious ulcer or two, particularly in teens, from their Halloween contact lenses,” says UT Medical Group pediatric ophthalmologist Dr. Natalie Kerr. She cautions consumers to wear only contact lenses that are prescribed and fitted by an eye care professional.

Here are more tips to keep your eyes safe this Halloween:

• Consider using face paint instead of a mask, which can obstruct vision.
• Make sure children carry flashlights to see clearly when trick-or-treating in the dark.
• Exercise caution with long and pointy accessories—such as toy swords, wands, or fake fingernails—which can cause an eye injury.
• Don’t share eye makeup.  Makeup can transmit eye infections easily.

UT Medical Group pediatric ophthalmologists care for children and teenagers at the Hamilton Eye Institute and at UT Medical Group’s Germantown facility.  To make an appointment with Dr. Kerr or any of the UTMG pediatric ophthalmologists, call 901-448-6650.

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