Avoid a fright this Halloween

With Halloween just around the corner we want you all to have only treats this year! So please be careful you don't get tricked when it comes to wearing costume cosmetic contact lenses!

Mackey Opticians do not provide Halloween cosmetic contact lenses, and we would not recommend wearing them, unless you have purchased them through an optometrist who has fitted them for you and ensured they will not be doing any damage to your eyes.

However, we understand at this time of year these lenses are very tempting to give your costumes that extra fear factor, so, if you do plan on wearing these lenses we would like to ensure you follow these contact lens wear and care steps to reduce the chances of anything frightening happening that could ruin your Halloween fun.

DON’T! Use saline solution to wash or store your lenses:

Saline solution, though sterile and safe for your eyes, does not sanitise your lenses effectively. Instead make sure to use a multipurpose contact lens solution, such as Opti-Free Puremoist solution, which is available to purchase in all Mackey Opticians branches. Solutions such as this will clean and disinfect the lenses and are also safe to store your lenses in, just be sure to empty the solutions from the case and add in new solutions each time.

DO! Wash your hands before handling your lenses:

Ensure to wash your hands with soap and water before inserting or removing your lenses. Avoid hand sanitiser at this step as this can dry out your lenses and cause irritation to your eyes.

DON’T! Share contact lenses with anyone else:

Avoid borrowing or wearing lenses if they are not yours, even if they are non-prescription lenses that have been disinfected previously. Wearing lenses that have been worn by someone else is extremely dangerous and can lead to severe damage or infections to your eyes.

DO! Insert your lenses BEFORE applying any make-up:

Putting in lenses before applying your make-up will lessen the risk of bacteria or debris getting trapped under your lenses that could cause infections. It will also help you see more clearly when applying the make-up if you use prescription lenses.

DON’T! Sleep, shower, or go “bobbing for apples” with your contact lenses in:

When wearing your contact lenses, it is best to avoid getting any water near your face or eyes. Water can contain chemicals like chlorine or bacteria that can both affect the quality of your lenses and more importantly the health of your eyes if trapped under a lens. As well as avoiding water it is particularly important NOT to sleep in your lenses as, without blinking to replace your tear film, contact lenses will dry our overnight and can be extremely painful and difficult to remove the next morning which in turn will cause a lot of damage to the surface of your eye.

DO! Speak to an optometrist or doctor if anything goes wrong when wearing cosmetic lenses:

If you wear your cosmetic lenses and something feels wrong or off, even if you have followed the above steps, make sure to speak with a professional right away. In Northern Ireland there is a scheme for sudden onset minor eye conditions called NI PEARS that will allow you to be seen under the NHS if you have any issues with your eyes. If you need to book a NI PEARS appointment, please contact your nearest Mackey Opticians branch and we will do our best to see you.

If you like the idea of contact lenses, not just for Halloween, contact your nearest branch to book a very “unscary” contact lens fitting appointment.