How to protect your eyes during Halloween and Bonfire Night

Halloween and Bonfire Night are a time for family get-togethers, community celebrations, and plenty of seasonal thrills. For years, we’ve followed the tradition of setting off fireworks and going to sometimes elaborate lengths to make our fancy-dress costumes even scarier or more impressive than the year before.

However, Mr Alex Day, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Moorfields Private, says that the period between 31st October and 5th November brings two very different, but entirely preventable, hazards to our eyes – novelty contact lenses and fireworks.

“Novelty coloured lenses can look fantastic with a costume, but many are bought from fancy-dress shops, market stalls, or overseas websites with no eye examination and no proper fitting,” he explains. “A badly fitting lens can scratch the clear window at the front of your eye (cornea). If bacteria take hold, the result can be microbial keratitis – a serious sight-threatening infection.

“In the UK it is actually illegal to sell any contact lens – prescription or not – without the involvement of a registered eyecare professional, so that is the simplest safeguard to look for.”

Mr Alex Day

This doesn’t mean you need to shy away from making your eyes stand out if you’ve found the perfect look for your Halloween get-up. Day emphasises that coloured contact lenses can be worn safely, providing you seek advice from a qualified eyecare professional.

“Have your eyes checked and the lenses fitted by an optometrist first,” he says. “Never sleep, shower, or swim in them. Never clean or store them in tap water, and take them out immediately if your eye becomes red, painful, or sensitive to light.”

According to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), fireworks are responsible for more than 100 hospital admissions in England each year.

While all firework-related injuries can be serious, injuries to your eyes can have particularly devastating and permanent consequences. A study conducted by the British Ophthalmological Surveillance Unit (BOSU) found that, among people who sustained serious firework-related eye injuries in the UK, just over half were left with very poor vision in the affected eye. In approximately one in six cases, the injury resulted in the complete loss of the eye.

It may be tempting to assume that these accidents are largely the result of youthful misadventure. However, almost three-quarters of those affected were adults. This highlights a concerning lack of awareness about just how vulnerable our eyes are to firework-related injuries, particularly during Bonfire Night.

Day explains that even something as seemingly innocent as a sparkler can pose a significant safety hazard if not handled safely.

“A sparkler may look harmless in a child’s hand, but it burns at up to 2,000°C – around twenty times the temperature of boiling water,” he says. “At a public display, the safe distance does most of the work, which is why I would always encourage families to choose an organised event over a back-garden one, where injuries are far more common. If you are the one lighting the fireworks, wear protective eyewear.

“If your eye is struck by a firework the instinct is to rub it, but that makes things worse. Do not rub or rinse it, do not try to remove anything embedded in the eye, and go straight to A&E. Eyes are remarkably resilient, and prompt treatment gives you the best chance of a full recovery.”

Socialising, having fun, and taking part in community events can all be great for your mental health. We’re certainly not suggesting you hide away in your living room with the curtains closed, waiting for the boos and bangs to pass. However, with Halloween and Bonfire Night bringing their fair share of potential dangers, it’s important to stay alert and keep safety in mind amidst all the excitement.

To help you make the most of the autumn celebrations, Day shares some practical advice on how to enjoy the festivities while keeping yourself and those around you safe.