As Halloween approaches, many people’s imaginations are conjuring up costume possibilities, from terrifying monsters to enchanted fairytale creatures. Often, a key ingredient to assembling the perfect look is makeup — particularly products like colored contact lenses, eyelash glue, and face paint. However, some of these products can cause scary and potentially long-lasting damage to the eyes.
To help people avoid getting tricked into receiving an eye injury instead of treats, we spoke with Casey Smith, MD, an assistant professor in the University of Colorado Anschutz Department of Ophthalmology. A pediatric ophthalmologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Smith explains the common injuries to look out for this Halloween and her tips on ways to avoid injury.
“By following these safety measures, we can help ensure Halloween remains a fun and memorable night for children, rather than a painful visit to an ophthalmologist,” she says.