By Heather Jensen Weekend Anchor/Reporter
News 3 On Your Side
Halloween season is upon us. The Spirit Halloween store in Columbus is scaring up customers looking for everything under the moon.News 3 On Your Side
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Stumble It!But there is one thing customers won't find at a costume shop ... contact lenses.
“You hear about them at costume shops, beauty parlors,” said Dr. Helen Hadley of Precision Optical Eye Care Clinic.
Dr. Helen Hadley is talking about theatrical lenses, a bewitching Halloween costume accessory. But beware. The “eye costumes” can be more of a trick than a treat, if not used properly.
“They’re FDA regulated just like any contact lens and that's a prescription,” Dr. Hadley says. “it's a medical device, something directly on your eye.”
A contact lens is a plastic disc that sits over the cornea of the eye. The lenses require a certain amount of care, as well as a licensed professional to check the lens on the eye.
“We looking for fit, making sure there's some movement, but not too much obviously; centration, how well it centers on the eye; and obviously vision,” says Hadley.
Without a proper fit, any lens can cause serious eye damage including infection, scratches, or sores.
“It can cause ulcers,” Dr. Hadley says. “It can cause red eyes if they're worn incorrectly.”
Fun eyewear doesn't have to be scary. But with the proper fit and a good costume, your Halloween can be down right spooky.
If you are interested in theatrical lenses for Halloween, contact your eye care professional. You’ll need to schedule your exam early. They are specialty lenses, so delivery can take up to a week.
For more information on contact lens wear, log on to the Federal Trade Commission website.
