View from the GOC: Take care this Halloween

With Halloween fast approaching it is the time of year when fancy dress is most popular. And many people will wear some spooky zero-powered contact lenses (ZPLs) to complete their outfit with demon or vampire eyes.

GOC research suggests cosmetic contact lens users have low levels of compliance with guidelines for safe use, leading to a higher risk of conditions such as microbial keratitis.

In particular, this means they miss out on advice on how to wear and store the lenses safely, including the importance of attending regular aftercare checkups and never sharing or swapping lenses, which can spread eye disease.

We have heard reports of groups of teenagers sharing lenses around the group; and then if one of them gets an eye infection, they all do.