Eye Safety is a Hidden Concern on Halloween

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on October 31, 2011

Halloween means parties, treats, and dressing up, and adults and children both like to join in the fun. However, both Halloween makeup and decorative contact lenses used as part of costumes can cause eye injury if not used properly, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Not all Halloween makeup is FDA-approved for use near the eyes. To avoid eye injuries, read makeup carefully and do not use it near the eyes if the packaging tells you to avoid the eye area – even if the pictures on the package show the makeup being used this way. Never use luminescent or “glow in the dark” makeup near your eyes, since the FDA has not approved any “glow” additive for use around the delicate eye area.

Decorative contact lenses pose another concern around Halloween when many people use them as part of their costumes. These lenses cannot be legally sold in the U.S. except through eye care professionals, who will measure and fit the lenses to your individual eyes and provide proper instructions on sterilization and safety. However, many Internet suppliers offer them without these law-required protections – but these lenses can cause permanent eye damage, according to the FDA. If decorative contact lenses are a “must” for your costume, see an eye doctor for a proper, safe fit.

If you or someone you love has been injured by a defective product, the experienced defective product injury attorneys in Seattle at Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. can help you protect your legal rights and seek compensation from those whose negligence may have caused your injury. To learn more, call us today at (888) 228-3860. The call is free, and any information you give us is always kept confidential.