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HALLOWEEN COSTUME TIPS

Happy group of children in costumes during Halloween party playing around the table with pumpkins and bottle of potion

With shorter days upon us, the leaves changing, and the temperature getting cooler, it has become time to prepare for Halloween. This popular holiday can be an exciting and fun time for kids and adults alike.  Be sure as you choose your costume this year that you use the right makeup and avoid over the counter colored contact lenses.

When helping your kids choose their costume, or planning your own costume for the upcoming Halloween party, keep an eye out for possible safety concerns. Avoid trip hazards, and have a clear vision from underneath any masks you may wear.

After you have picked your costume, it comes time to plan out what, if any, kind of makeup you will be using. Keep in mind that you and your kids will most likely be walking a lot, or maybe showing off those new moves on the dance floor for indoor parties. This means that you are probably going to be sweating. As you sweat, makeup that you have on your face can run into your eyes. This can cause eye irritation, be painful and sometimes lead to infection. Be sure to use makeup on your face that is water based and oil free.

Not only are water based makeups easier to remove at the end of the night, they are safer, especially for the young ones. Oil based makeup can also clog pores, leaving your skin around your eyes irritated.

Another popular accessory to Halloween costumes are colored contact lenses. “Decorative” contacts can be found in all shapes and sizes, ranging from unique colors to shapes that look similar to cat or snake eyes. While these contacts look cool, it is important to have them properly fitted by your optometrist.

They will measure your eye and give you a prescription for decorative contacts that contain an expiration date. It is important to make sure that the contact properly fits your eye and that you purchase them from a licensed store that requires a prescription to purchase. Getting the wrong size contact can cause damage to your eye or even suction to your eye. This will not only cause discomfort and pain but may also lead to serious permanent damage.

As you browse the racks at your local Halloween store, or scroll through the pages of costumes on the internet, be sure to get the right makeup, allowing for easy removal. If you plan on using decorative contacts, don’t wait until the last minute to contact your optometrist about getting fitted for them.  Have a safe and happy Halloween!

About the author: John D. Bissell, owner of Bissell Eye Care and Tri-State Low Vision Services, offers comprehensive eye examinations for the entire family, ocular disease detection and treatment, eye glasses, sun glasses, active wear, contact lenses, and low vision examinations for those with significant vision loss. He has undergone specialized training for treatment of low vision by the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists utilizing customized telescopic eyeglasses, prisms and telescopic implants for patients who qualify. The practice accepts most types of vision and health insurance plans.