Contact Lens Safety This Fall: Costume Lenses, Swimming and the "Lost" Lens

Fall is a busy season for contact lenses. Halloween brings costume lenses, indoor pools stay open all year, and plenty of people still have a "my lens disappeared" moment in front of the mirror. This week our patients asked about swimming in contacts and about hurting an eye while trying to remove a lens that wasn't actually there.

Here is a simple, friendly guide to keeping your eyes safe with contact lenses this season.

Are costume and colored contacts safe for Halloween?

They can be — but only when they come with a prescription and a proper fitting. In the United States, every contact lens is a medical device, even a lens with no vision correction that only changes your eye color. Selling them without a prescription is against the law.

Cheap costume lenses from a party store, beauty supply, or random website can cause real harm. A lens that doesn't fit your eye can rub the surface, block oxygen, and lead to scratches or infections. Some of these injuries leave lasting scars.

Safer ways to get the look

• Get a contact lens exam, even if you have perfect vision.
• Ask about colored or special-effect lenses that are approved and fit for your eyes.
• Never share lenses with a friend, even for one night.
• Take lenses out before you sleep, and throw away one-day lenses after the party.

Why shouldn't I swim in contact lenses?

Pool, lake, ocean, and hot tub water can carry germs. One of them, a tiny organism called Acanthamoeba, can cause a painful and serious eye infection. A soft lens can soak up water and hold those germs against your eye.

Showering in lenses carries some of the same risk, since tap water isn't sterile either.

What if I can't see without my lenses?

You have more choices than you might think:

• Prescription swim goggles let you see clearly without lenses in the water.
• Daily disposable lenses with tight goggles are a lower-risk backup. Throw the lenses away right after you swim.
• DreamSculpt™ Ortho-K lenses are worn only while you sleep. They gently reshape the front of the eye overnight so many people see clearly all day with no lenses at all, which is great for swimmers. Learn more about DreamSculpt™ Ortho-K.

Never rinse or store lenses in water. Use only fresh solution, every time.

I can't find my lens. Is it stuck behind my eye?

No. A contact lens can't get lost behind your eye. A thin, clear layer of tissue covers the white of the eye and folds under your eyelids, so there's no path for a lens to slip back there.

A lens can slide up under the top lid, fold over, or fall out without you noticing. Before you dig around:

• Wash and dry your hands well.
• Look in a mirror with good light. Look down, then gently lift the top lid.
• Add a few drops of saline or rewetting drops and blink. A hidden lens often slides back into view.
• Check the sink, the counter, your cheek, and your clothes.

I pinched my eye trying to remove a lens that wasn't there. What now?

This happens more than you'd think, especially early in the morning or late at night. Pinching the eye itself can scratch the clear front surface, called the cornea. A scratch often feels like sand in the eye, with tearing, redness, and light sensitivity.

• Don't put a lens back in that eye until it feels completely normal.
• Don't rub the eye.
• Wear your glasses instead.
• Call your eye doctor the same day if it hurts, you're sensitive to light, or your vision is blurry.

Contact lens wearers with a scratch need a check, because a scratched eye is easier for germs to infect. Our guide to a scratched eye explains what to expect.

What if a lens tore and it still feels like something's in my eye?

A small piece of a torn lens can hide under a lid, or the torn edge may have scratched the eye. If the feeling lasts more than a few hours after rinsing with saline, leave your lenses out and get the eye checked. Don't wear a new lens over a sore eye.

Habits that protect your eyes year-round

• Wash and dry your hands before you touch your lenses.
• Don't sleep in lenses unless your eye doctor says your lens is made for it. See why sleeping in contacts is risky.
• Replace lenses and cases on schedule.
• Keep a pair of up-to-date glasses as a backup.
• When in doubt, take it out — and call.

How we help at Bolt Eye Group

At Bolt Eye Group, we fit everything from daily disposables to specialty designs like scleral lenses and DreamSculpt™ Ortho-K. We teach safe insertion and removal, help you choose lenses that fit your life, and see contact lens problems quickly when something feels wrong.

You'll find us in Canton, East Cobb/Marietta, Lawrenceville, Riverdale, and Johnson City, TN.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an eye exam for non-prescription colored contacts?

Yes. All contact lenses need a prescription and a fitting, even ones that don't correct vision.

Is it okay to wear contacts in the shower?

It's best to avoid it. Tap water isn't sterile and can carry germs that harm the eye.

Can a lens really disappear in my eye?

It can hide under a lid, but it can't go behind your eye. Rinse with saline and look carefully in a mirror.

When is a red eye from contacts an emergency?

Take your lenses out and call the same day for pain, light sensitivity, discharge, a white spot on the eye, or blurry vision that doesn't clear.

Are daily disposables safer?

For many people, yes. A fresh, clean lens each day means no case to keep clean and fewer deposits.

Book a contact lens visit at Bolt Eye Group

Want safe colored lenses for Halloween, a plan for swimming, or a refresher on removal? Book a contact lens visit at Bolt Eye Group in Canton, East Cobb/Marietta, Lawrenceville, Riverdale, or Johnson City, TN. Find your office and book online.