From The Dr’s. Desk
As hard as it is to believe, fall is already upon us! The leaves are changing and the local stores are filling their shelves with candy and spooky decorations. It’s time to visit the pumpkin farm with the kids and decide on the perfect costume to wear to your Halloween events.
The AOA and Prevent Blindness of America have named October “Halloween Safety Awareness Month” and released safety guidelines to help protect your vision if you are considering wearing costume contact lenses as part of your holiday attire.
The American Optometric Association released a press release for October, Cosmetic Contacts Can Be a “Scary” Choice for Halloween
Recommendations for Decorative Contact Lens Wearers from the Amerian Optometric Association
1. See an optometrist for your regularly scheduled contact lens and eye examination and for a proper fitting and prescription.
2. Always wash your hands before handling contact lenses.
3. Carefully and regularly clean contact lenses, as directed by your optometrist. Rub the contact lenses with fingers and rinse thoroughly before soaking lenses overnight in sufficient multi-purpose solution to completely cover the lens.
4. Store lenses in the proper lens storage case and replace the case every three month or sooner. Clean the case after each use, and keep it open and dry between cleanings.
5. Use only products recommended by your optometrist to clean and disinfect your lenses. Saline solution and rewetting drops are not designed to disinfect lenses.
6. Only fresh solution should be used to clean and store contact lenses. Never re-use old solution. Contact lens solution must be changed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, even if he lenses are not used daily.
7. Always follow the recommended contact lens replacement schedule prescribed by your optometrist.
8. Remove contact lenses before swimming or entering a hot tub.
For more information about the risks of decorative contact lenses, or to find additional resources pertaining to contact lens hygiene and compliance, please visit www.aoa.org.
To support the AOA and Prevent Blindness of America’s message in the need for a prescription and cosmetic lens fitting with a licensed Optometrist, during the month of October there will be no fitting fee when you come in for a Cosmetic Contact Lens Exam, fitting and purchase Costume Cosmetic lenses at Metro Eye.
If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected] or call the office and speak with a member of the Metro Eye staff.
Please stay safe this Halloween and have a wonderful fun time!
Amy