PRESS RELEASE
Monday, October 19, 2020
Hopes COVID’s ‘cancel culture’ could prompt drop in Halloween horror stories

Eye care practitioners are hopeful the cancellation of Halloween fancy dress parties due to COVID-19 could prompt a fall in ghoulish horror stories caused by novelty cosmetic contact lenses.
 
The lenses have been blamed for a reported rise in the number of serious eye infections at this time of year and eye care practitioners are keen for the controversial accessories to now fall out of fashion, with many Halloween celebrations effectively wiped out by the ongoing pandemic.  

Novelty lenses have formed a key part of the costume for thousands of revellers celebrating Halloween in recent years, but the lenses, which alter eye colour, are often shared around amongst friends - increasing the risk of corneal ulcers and infections.

Luke Stevens-Burt, chief executive of the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA), said: “By sharing coloured contact lenses young people are playing Russian roulette with their eye health and putting their sight at risk.

“We’ve seen all too often that these lenses might impress your friends for one night on Halloween but losing your vision could be a lifelong horror story.

“It’s a problem that we have seen escalate in recent years but there’s a chance the ongoing pandemic could actually help stem the tide this year. The mass cancelling of parties and organised events may well result in someone’s sight being saved, but we cannot rely on this alone. The risk is reduced and not eliminated.” 


The BCLA, which has teamed up with the Association for Independent Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians (AIO) to work closely with the GOC to drive out the illegal sale of contact lenses across the UK, has re-issued an infographic highlighting the dangers of buying cosmetic lenses from unregistered sellers and warning of the potential consequences to eye health.
Cosmetic coloured lenses are a medical device and should be prescribed by an eye care professional. These lenses should only be purchased from a registered practitioner.
BCLA President Indie Grewal added: "Cosmetic lenses found in fashion retail outlets, market stalls and from unregistered online sellers are distributed on a 'one size fits all' basis. To minimise the risks of infection and ongoing eye health issues, it is essential that all lenses are individually prescribed by a fully qualified professional.
“An eye care professional will ensure that contact lenses fit properly and that wearers receive expert advice on how to wear and store them safely.”
Purchasing and fitting contact lenses without the supervision of a registered eye care practitioner could lead to eye infections and even permanent damage to the eye if the lenses that are not stored and washed in sterile solutions. 

You can download the infographic here.

Notes to editors
• For further information, or to arrange further interviews, please call Daniel Owens from Orange Juice Communications on 07909 916668 or email [email protected]