Pumpkins, ghosts and witches provide lots of inspiration for spooky costumes and festive attire. For many children, this fall holiday is the culmination of a year’s worth of planning.

Having the most elaborate outfit may be your goal, but without careful planning, you can easily double your toil and trouble. Halloween costumes can put you at risk for eye injury, but following easy safety tips will ensure you have all the treats without the tricks.

Below, we have provided four safety tips to lower your risk for eye injury on Halloween.

Use Soft, Flexible Hand-Held Props

Fairy wands and pirate swords can boost the fun of indoor play, but they can pose dangerous threats to your vision on Halloween. Even though Harry Potter’s broomstick or Luke Skywalker’s light saber are made of plastic, they can be hazardous and lead to eye injury.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported 3,200 Halloween-related visits to the emergency room every year. However, children still run around dark neighborhoods holding sharp, pointy objects.

Hand-held props can cause painful corneal abrasions or even vision loss. Instead of using props made of metal or plastic, purchase flexible foam props that cannot damage vision.

Consider Wearing a Hat Instead of a Mask

Costume shops sell hundreds of masks, but these accessories are not always tested for safety. Masks can impair your vision if they are too tight or too loose. Often, the eyeholes of the mask are too small, and they limit your visual field. Children can easily fall or run into another person or object and get an eye injury.

Other components of costumes can also obstruct vision, including wigs and eye patches. It is always a good idea to try on any type of head or hair accessory before Halloween to evaluate how it affects your vision.

A decorative hat can be just as creative as a mask. Make sure it fits snugly on the head and is not floppy. If you are feeling especially creative, make your own hat by going to the craft store and buying embellishments like buttons or lace to attach to it.

Carefully Select Eye Makeup and Test it First

Makeup can be another interesting alternative to hats and masks. Using makeup can provide the pop of color you’re looking for without obstructing your vision.

The challenge with costume makeup is that most people don’t use it until Halloween night. If you are allergic to the makeup or have a reaction, your chills and thrills may come to a sudden halt.

When purchasing makeup, look for hypoallergenic cosmetics that do not include parabens or benzalkonium chloride. The FDA published a list of safe color additives so you can make sure your colors are FDA-approved. Certain pigments can also cause inflammation to your eyes, so avoid metallic makeup if you’ve never tried wearing it before.

Avoid applying makeup to the inside of the lash line because you can poke your eye or cause irritation to the delicate skin around your eyes. You may also want to avoid using makeup with glitter because it can flake off and cause corneal abrasions. Craft glitter can contain tiny pieces of glass or metal, so never use craft glitter on any part of the eye.

A few days before Halloween, apply a little of each type of makeup to your forearm and observe your skin closely. If you don’t have a reaction, that makeup will be safe to use on Halloween. After trick or treating, it’s important to remove the makeup right away and not sleep in it.

Only Wear Contact Lenses from Your Eye Doctor

Changing your eye color is a novelty, but it’s not worth losing your vision. You can purchase cosmetic contact lenses almost anywhere, from a gas station to a party planning store, but chances are high that those contacts may contain harmful substances like chlorine or iron.

Contact lenses are medical devices and require a prescription from a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist. Therefore, you are buying unregulated contacts if you obtain them from anyone but your doctor.

Non-prescription cosmetic contacts don’t have adequate air flow and, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), can lead to the following:

• Bacteria build-up
• Deposits on the contact
• Eye infections
• Corneal scratches and abrasions
• Corneal ulcers
• Blindness

Call Your Ophthalmologist for a Comprehensive Eye Exam

Have you noticed your vision is not as clear as it used to be? Have no fear, ghouls and goblins. You may be due for a comprehensive eye exam with dilation. Getting your eyes checked is an essential part of preventive care because it can assess your visual acuity and test for chronic eye conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

Your ophthalmologist will check you for the following:

• Refractive error — nearsighted, farsighted or astigmatism
• Focusing problems, including presbyopia
• Other vision problems, such as strabismus, amblyopia or binocular vision
• Other diseases such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, which can often be detected in an eye exam

Call today to make an appointment for your whole family so you don’t “go bump in the night” on Halloween!

Living near New York City, Lissette Gonzalez often visits the Museum of Modern Art and watches off-Broadway productions with her family.

This spring, a cataract in her right eye affected her vision, impacting her travels to the Big Apple.

“All I could really make out would be like shadow and light,” she said. “It got to the point where I would have my son stand in front of me and just wave his hand.”

The Hudson County, New Jersey, woman said the vision loss made navigating the crowded city difficult.

“I was legitimately scared to walk, to cross the streets,” Gonzalez, 50, said. “I should not be scared just to walk down city streets that I’m used to walking. It’s not like I never go to New York.”

Cataracts are the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide and of vision loss in the United States. If not treated, cataracts may impair or cause complete loss of eyesight.

Blurry Vision Leads to Eye Exam, Cataract Diagnosis

Gonzalez’s journey began about 19 months ago when she started noticing changes in her eyesight. She made an appointment with ophthalmologist Hardik Parikh, MD, FAAO, in early 2023.

“She came to me with a vision problem in her right eye,” Dr. Parikh said. “She wasn’t seeing clearly for the last few months. She was having a harder time working at her computer, tending to have to refocus constantly. Her vision at nighttime was also impacted. She was having a lot more glare than she was normally accustomed to.”

After a comprehensive eye exam, Dr. Parikh diagnosed Gonzalez with a posterior subcapsular cataract. This fast-developing cataract starts in the backmost part of the lens in the eye and blocks the center part of your vision where the light passes through.

A patient has two options when diagnosed with a cataract. They can wait and adjust their glasses or contacts or have cataract removal surgery, according to Dr. Parikh.

“I would definitely recommend the procedure,” he said. “Cataract surgery overall is one of the safest procedures that we have in all of ophthalmology.”

Gonzalez determined her slightly blurry vision was manageable and delayed cataract surgery. A posterior subcapsular cataract is generally faster growing than other cataracts. About 14 months after her initial diagnosis, Gonzalez experienced light perception vision.

“Even if we took a hand and waved it in front of her eye, going back and forth, she wouldn’t know that the hand was there,” Dr. Parikh said.

Choosing an Intraocular Lens and Cataract Surgery

In March, Gonzalez scheduled her cataract surgery for June 13 at an ambulatory surgery center (ASC). ASCs offer safe, high-quality outpatient medical procedures.

During this procedure, a doctor replaces the cloudy lens of a patient’s eye with an artificial lens. This intraocular lens (IOL) is a clear, plastic lens that becomes a permanent part of the eye.

Depending on your visual needs and lifestyle, several IOLs are available.

• Monofocal Lenses help with distance vision, but you may still need glasses for reading or if you have astigmatism. Medicare and other insurance plans usually cover these.
• Astigmatism-correcting Monofocal Lenses correct your astigmatism as well as your cataracts during one simple procedure. Most people only need glasses for reading after surgery.
• Multifocal or Extended Depth of Focus Lenses help you see both near and far, so you may be able to go glasses-free after surgery.

Gonzalez selected a monofocal IOL and opted to undergo femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery. In this procedure, Dr. Parikh designed a specific surgical plan with a 3-D image of her right eye called optical coherence tomography (OCT).

“We’re using technology to better augment a surgeon’s hands, making tasks easier, more efficient, more predictable, and more standardized,” Dr. Parikh said. “Anything that really helps with the patient’s outcome at the end of the day is a win for us.”

By surgery day, Gonzalez said she was ready to regain her sight.

“I felt at ease with the procedure,” she said. “Sure, with any procedure there’s a risk, but I, personally, at that moment, felt like I had nothing to lose because I already had no sight and it was affecting my quality of life.”

After a seamless surgery-day process, Gonzalez returned the next day for her follow-up appointment.

“Laser-related surgery is really putting yourself in the hands of professionals that can deliver results,” she said. “I walked out of there being able to see again. I had my sight back.”

Dr. Parikh prescribed eye drops for Gonzalez to prevent infection and to reduce inflammation over the next few weeks.

“By about the first month after surgery, they’re generally off all eye drops and they’re back to living their normal lives as things were before the surgery,” he said.

Patient Returns to the Big Apple without Fear

Today, Gonzalez said her vision is better than ever. Her right eye is 20/20 and she has new prescription glasses to accommodate her left eye, which also has a small cataract.

Her restored sight gave Gonzalez confidence to return to New York City. She recently watched an off-Broadway play and viewed her favorite artwork by French Neo-Impressionist painter Paul Signac at the Museum of Modern Art.

“I was able to see everything comfortably,” she said. “I didn’t really deprive myself of my typical activities [before], but what I appreciate is being able to do them without a sense of fear. Just being able to move in the world without having to worry … It just feels good just feeling safe.”

Prioritizing her eye care and cataract surgery restored Gonzalez’s vision and quality of life.

“My only regret was not doing it sooner,” she said.

Schedule a Visit with Your Eye Doctor

September is designated as Healthy Aging Month to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of vision loss. One in six Americans aged 65 and older have a vision impairment that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses.

Prioritize your vision health by scheduling a visit with your ophthalmologist for a comprehensive eye exam. Your eye doctor will check your visual acuity, evaluate your current eye prescription and screen you for eye conditions like cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration. Call today for an appointment.

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This article is designed for educational purposes only. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health concern or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health concern, you should consult your healthcare provider.

Spending time outside can lower stress and boost your mood, but outdoor fun can increase your risk for UV exposure, eye infection or ocular injuries. Taking daily precautions can protect your eyes and prevent long-term vision damage.

Shield Your Eyes from the Sun

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation penetrates the eye more easily than visible light and can increase your risk of developing vision problems. UV rays cause a variety of eye issues, from corneal sunburn to eye growths and cancer, as well as degenerative eye diseases like the following:

• Cataracts — clouding of the eye lens, which leads to vision loss and potential blindness
• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) — retinal damage, potentially resulting in permanent central vision loss

A wide-brimmed hat and a quality pair of sunglasses will block or reflect the harmful UV light from your eyes. When choosing sunglasses, opt for ones that offer 99-100 percent protection against UVA and UVB rays, or ones labeled with a UV400 rating.

How your sunglasses fit is just as important. A good pair of sunglasses should remain in place and provide wide coverage around your eyes. The frames should also minimize the amount of light that enters the eye from the sides, top and bottom (NEI).

One of the easiest ways to prevent UV damage is to stay inside when the sunlight is most intense, often between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The UV index can still be high when there is significant cloud cover. Make it a habit when you go outdoors to wear sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen of at least 30 SPF.

If you have children, it is a wise idea to keep hats and sunglasses for every member of the family in the car.

Wear Safety Goggles for Sports or Activities

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, US emergency rooms treat almost 30,000 sports-related eye injuries per year. Experts estimate 90 percent of serious eye injuries could have been prevented if people wore appropriate protective eyewear.

One study found that basketball caused the most sports-related ocular injuries, followed by baseball, softball, airsoft rifles, pellet guns, racquetball and hockey.

Experts recommend athletes wear durable sports glasses with polycarbonate lenses for activities like basketball, tennis, soccer and field hockey.

“If you are participating in any sports or activities where there may be a risk for impact or eye injuries, then consider utilizing impact-resistant frames that meet ASTM standards,” said Fraser Horn, OD, dean of Pacific University College of Optometry in Oregon (AOA).

Wearing protective sports glasses with polycarbonate lenses can lower your risk of eye injury. If you or a family member play racquet sports or any activity that uses a ball, purchase impact-resistant frames that meet ASTM standards. Even those watching sports games can get hurt, so stay vigilant for flying balls, bats or gear that may come into the stands.

Sports are not the only activity that can cause eye injuries. Even yard work and cleaning your home can pose a threat to healthy vision. You should wear protective eyewear for any activity that involves the following:

• Flying debris or small particles
• Projectiles or objects that could become projectiles
• Hazardous chemicals

Remove Contact Lenses and Wear Goggles in the Water

There’s nothing like an aquatic adventure to cool off from the summer heat. Swimming can pose threats to healthy eyes, so it is best to take precautions by creating new habits.

Wearing swim goggles can prevent chlorine irritation and infection from bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye). Although it is rare, some swimmers may contract acanthamoeba keratitis, a rare and very serious infection caused by an amoeba.

“The eye is not great at fighting off different types of infections because it doesn’t have available blood supply to it,” said Masih Ahmed, MD, an assistant professor of ophthalmology at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. “If you have scratches in the cornea, which can happen from dry eye or even rubbing your eye, one of those microorganisms can get into those cuts and lead to infection.”

You can keep your eyes safe in the water by remembering these guidelines:

1. Wear goggles.
2. Remove contact lenses.
3. Rinse your eyes after getting out of any body of water.
4. Use artificial tears to hydrate your eyes.
5. Avoid rubbing your eyes after swimming.
6. Be cautious around natural bodies of water because of possible microorganisms.

Make Annual Eye Doctor Appointments for the Whole Family

Many people assume their eyes are healthy if they are not experiencing specific problems. The fact is, vision problems can develop without symptoms or pain.

A comprehensive eye exam with dilation is an easy way to monitor your eye health. Yearly vision checks will assess refractive errors and focusing problems and screen for eye diseases like cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Regular eye exams can offer a window into your overall health and assess whether you are at higher risk for eye disease or chronic issues like high blood pressure.

Commit to healthy vision by calling your eye doctor to make eye appointments for your family. Ensure your eye health by wearing sunglasses, applying sunscreen and using protective eyewear. Contact your eye doctor if you have discomfort or new symptoms.