Eye Health More Eye Issues & Safety How to Avoid Eye Injuries During Halloween By Troy Bedinghaus, OD linkedin Troy L. Bedinghaus, OD, board-certified optometric physician, owns Lakewood Family Eye Care in Florida. He is an active member of the American Optometric Association. Learn about our editorial process Troy Bedinghaus, OD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Ami A. Shah, MD on May 26, 2020 Ami A. Shah, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist and a practicing clinician specializing in oculofacial plastic and orbital surgery. Learn about our Medical Review Board Ami A. Shah, MD on May 26, 2020 Print If your children enjoy dressing up and wandering the streets for candy on Halloween, make sure they do it safely. Many eye injuries are reported every year as a result of Halloween activities. In addition, it's easy for kids to be less visible to drivers during evening hours. Follow these tips to keep your kids, and their little peepers, safe. 1 Avoid Costumes That Block Vision Zing Images / Getty Images Masks, wigs and eye patches are fun Halloween accessories, but make sure they don't block visibility. Some masks are very dangerous for children because they block their side vision. A better, safer option is to decorate your child's face with face paint or make-up. 2 Use Make-Up Safely fotostorm / Getty Images If you decide to disguise your child with make-up instead of a mask, use hypo-allergenic options and keep it away from the eyes. It's a good idea to carry a wet towel or washcloth in case the make-up begins to run while trick-or-treating. Running around in a costume makes some kids perspire, so a quick clean-up around the eye area may be necessary before the night is over. 3 Don't Allow Sharp Objects to Be Used as Props Nicklas Pettersson / EyeEm / Getty Images Some costumes don't seem complete without swords or wands. Still, do not allow your child to carry sharp objects. Sharp, pointed props endanger your child's eyes as well as the eyes of other children. 4 Follow Guidelines for Wearing Decorative Contact Lenses belchonock / Getty Images Older kids often complete their Halloween costumes with spooky cosmetic contact lenses. Remember that contact lenses are medical devices and require a valid prescription. Be on the safe side and have your eye doctor fit them on your child. If not used safely, contact lens use can lead to vision loss. 5 Carry a Flashlight Tetra Images / Getty Images Give your child a small flashlight to illuminate dark paths and walkways. If it is a dark night, your child will not be able to see holes in yards or missing porch steps. A flashlight will also make your child more visible to drivers. 6 Make Sure Costumes Are Reflective Cavan Images / Getty Images If the costume your child chooses is not made of reflective material, sew on reflective fabric strips or use stick-on strips of reflective tape. You want your child to be seen, especially crossing streets in the dark. Place reflective material on the front, back and sides of your child's costume. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit