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with Halloween Around the corner, thousands of people will be shopping for fancy dresses contact lenses To go with their attire. The appeal is obvious, as their endless colors and shapes allow you to radically change the way you look – who wasn’t intimidated by the white and yellow eyes of the girl in The Exorcist?
However, we also have to be careful. These lenses can cause serious harm – and even blindness – if we fail to take the necessary precautions.
Complications associated with these items range from mild symptoms such as dryness, itching and irritation to more serious symptoms such as infection, scarring and loss of vision. So why are they dangerous? And what can we do to reduce the risks?
content matters
Around Halloween, fancy dress contact lenses can be found everywhere. This makes it easy for anyone to buy them without knowing where they came from. However, for an optician or optometrist, few things are scarier than the sight of a patient who has decided to complement their attire with new contact lenses.
Material quality is a particularly important factor here. Studies have found unauthorized dyes and other substances, such as chlorine or iron, in cosmetic contact lenses that can cause irritation, burning, and even allergic reactions if they come in contact with the eyes.
Additionally, many of the pigments used in these contact lenses increase microbial adhesion. This increases the risk of infection.
To minimize these risks, anyone who decides to purchase these contact lenses should do so from an accredited establishment and should always follow the instructions of their optician or optometrist.
It should be noted that contact lenses are regulated medical devices that must meet strict safety and quality criteria in terms of their manufacturing, marketing and use. These criteria are established by national bodies, such as AEMPS (the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices).
injury, infection, ulcer
If contact lenses do not fit the patient’s eye properly, or if the material is not suitable, it can cause injury. These facilitate the entry of bacteria, viruses and fungi, which can cause serious and painful eye infections such as keratitis. If an injury is very severe, it can lead to corneal ulcers and the patient may lose his vision.
Additionally, most people who purchase cosmetic contact lenses have never used them before and may not use them again. This increases the possibility of their misuse manifold.
About the authors
Sofia Rando González, Junta de Galicia Predoctoral Researcher, University of Santiago de Compostela.
Justo Arins, University Professor, Specialization Area of Optics and Optometry, University of Santiago de Compostela.
Neri García Porta, Professor of Optometry, University of Santiago de Compostela.
This article is republished from Conversation Under Creative Commons license. read the original article,
One of the most common mistakes is cleaning or storing contact lenses in water instead of using a specially designed solution. Water may contain dangerous microorganisms such as acanthamoebaWhich can cause serious infection if it comes in contact with eyes.
Similarly, the case or lens holder should not be cleaned with water, but should always be cleaned with a specific solution for contact lenses, which ensures greater protection. Additionally, contact lenses cannot be stored in maintenance solution for long periods of time, as this may lead to microbial growth.
If you have any doubts, it is better not to consult artificial intelligence (ayeAI can offer recommendations based on data, but it cannot be tailored to the specifics of each user like an eye care professional. This is because it cannot perform physical examinations, nor is it able to interpret specifics and symptoms.
Furthermore, AI models depend on the information they have been trained with and the updates they receive. They should not be used as anything more than a supplemental tool, and certainly not as a substitute for consultation with an eye care professional.
How to use contact lenses safely
- Do not use fancy dress lenses without the supervision of an eye care professional
- Ask your optician or optometrist if they would be suitable for you, and also ask what options are currently available to buy.
- Buy high-quality lenses from a reputable establishment and double-check that the product you are getting is safe.
- Ensure proper hand hygiene before handling lenses. Always use a specific solution for this contact lensesNever water or saliva.
- If you feel irritation, take them out immediately. If irritation continues, see an eye care professional or doctor immediately.
- Never share lenses. This can significantly increase the risk of infection.
- Always apply lenses before applying makeup.
- Limit how long you use them. The recommended time should be provided by the manufacturer.
- Always remove them before sleeping.
Contact lenses can be the perfect way to get a really scary look this Halloween. If you protect your eyes properly, the night will not end with the wrong kind of scare.