Posted by: Eye Health Northwest in General Eye Health on October 1, 2025
While Halloween should be filled with excitement and creativity, certain costume choices and beauty practices can turn your spooky celebration into a medical emergency. During Halloween Safety Month, the American Academy of Ophthalmology highlights the surprising eye health risks that come with popular Halloween trends.
Keep reading to learn more about how to keep Halloween fun by protecting your eyes this October.
The Hidden Dangers of Costume Contact Lenses
Colored contact lenses might seem like the perfect finishing touch for your vampire, zombie, or fantasy character costume. However, non-prescription costume contacts pose serious threats to your eye health that extend far beyond Halloween night:
Prohibited by the USDA
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies all contact lenses as medical devices, making it illegal for gas stations, convenience stores, beauty parlors, and online retailers to sell them without requiring a valid prescription. When you purchase contacts from unauthorized sources, you’re not only breaking the law, but you’re also putting your vision at serious risk.
Causes Eye Irritation and Infections
Poorly fitting contact lenses act like sandpaper against the delicate surface of your eyes. Without proper measurement and fitting by an eye care professional, these lenses can scratch the cornea, causing painful corneal abrasions.
These scratches create entry points for bacteria, leading to corneal ulcers that may appear as white dots on the colored part of your eye.
Can Lead to Serious Eye Conditions
Research shows that people wearing colored contacts are 16 times more likely to develop keratitis, a serious eye infection, compared to those using properly prescribed contact lenses. The chemicals used to create the dramatic colors in over-the-counter lenses often include chlorine and other toxic substances that can enter your eye tissue, potentially causing permanent damage.
Safe Alternatives to Costume Contacts
If colored contacts are essential to your costume vision, visit EyeHealth Northwest for a proper eye examination and contact lens fitting. Our experienced ophthalmologists can prescribe FDA-approved colored contacts that fit your eyes safely while achieving the dramatic look you want.
Smart Strategies for Halloween Eye Makeup
Halloween makeup allows for creative expression that goes far beyond everyday looks, but certain products and practices can threaten your eye health. The key to safe Halloween makeup lies in choosing the right products and following proper hygiene practices:
Avoid Certain Types of Makeup
Metallic eyeshadows, glitter, and sparkle powders may create stunning effects, but these products pose significant risks to your eyes. Glitter particles can fall into your tear film, causing irritation, scratches, and infections, especially for contact lens wearers.
Face paints, while generally safer than glitter, should never be applied directly to the lash line, where they can block the oil glands that protect your eye’s surface. Choose face paints specifically designed for use around the eyes, and always read ingredient lists to avoid products containing harsh or untested chemicals.
Don’t Share Makeup With Others
Never share eye makeup with family members or friends, even for special occasions like Halloween. Sharing makeup can spread bacteria and viruses that cause conjunctivitis (also known as pink eye) and other infectious conditions.
If you’re helping others with their Halloween looks, use disposable applicators and avoid double-dipping brushes into the same product.
Practice Proper Makeup Application and Removal
Always apply eye makeup outside the lash line, away from the eye itself, to prevent blocking the oil glands in your eyelids. At the end of the night, remove all eye makeup completely before going to bed.
Sleeping with mascara and other eye makeup can cause irritation and, in extreme cases, lead to serious complications.
Be Careful with Fake Eyelashes and Extensions
False eyelashes and extensions can create dramatic Halloween looks, but they require careful attention to safety and hygiene. When applied incorrectly or with contaminated products, these beauty enhancements can cause serious eye problems.
Before applying any false lashes, perform a patch test with the adhesive on a small area of skin, such as your inner wrist, to ensure you don’t develop redness, swelling, or irritation. Allergic reactions to lash glue can cause severe swelling around the eyes and, in extreme cases, may require emergency medical attention.
For safe eyelash extensions, visit an experienced, licensed aesthetician who follows proper sanitation protocols. Professional application ensures the extensions are placed correctly without damaging your natural lashes or irritating your eyes. Halloween should be about creative expression, community celebration, and making lasting memories, not medical emergencies.
Schedule an appointment with EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR, today, and let us help you maintain clear and healthy vision for all your future celebrations.
