Optician urges fancy dress revellers to take care of their eyesight

Specsavers in East Kilbride are urging fancy dress revellers to ensure they don’t play a trick on their eyes through costume lenses and make-up this Hallowe’en.

Instead they are asking witches, warlocks, black cats and devils to make sure they look after their eyes and give them the care they deserve.

While novelty contact lenses may seem like a perfect costume addition, they can cause damage to eyes – especially if they are not handled correctly.

Not knowing how to wear or care for contacts can also result in numerous minor eye conditions such as red eye, infections and scratches – as well as more serious complications that can, in severe cases, lead to sight loss.

Shirley-Ann Kennedy, store director at Specsavers East Kilbride, says:“Hallowe’en contact lenses have become incredibly popular in recent years; however, consumers often are not aware of the risks associated with misusing contact lenses.

“In particular, if a wearer hasn’t had a proper consultation with an optometrist beforehand, they probably haven’t been taught how to wear or care for their lenses correctly.

“The results can be nasty and range from mildly irritating complications, to potentially sight-threatening conditions such as fungal infections like microbial keratitis.”

Shirley-Ann added:“If you do start to notice any discomfort, irritation or pain during or after wearing Halloween contact lenses it is important you visit an opticians immediately.”