Avoid a fright for your eyes this Halloween

Following reports of serious eye infections and injuries, the public are being warned against wearing decorative contact lenses that haven’t been professionally supplied this Halloween.

Trading Standards officers across Wales have issued the safety warning as legally, contact lenses should only be sold under the supervision of a registered medical practitioner, a registered optometrist or a registered dispensing optician who is on the premises to supervise the sale.

A recent survey within 18 Welsh local authorities identified 77 stores that were selling ‘zero powered’ contact lenses that are worn for cosmetic reasons rather than for any sight benefits.

The stores were notified of the rules around selling such products, and guidance was also provided in the form of a General Optical Council leaflet.

Seventy-one test purchases conducted in the stores found that four of them made sales which were not supervised as they should have been. In those cases, Trading Standards officers issued safety notices under the General Product (Safety) Regulations 2005 prohibiting the unsupervised sale of the product.

A spokesperson from Wales Heads of Trading Standards said: “It is encouraging that so many stores adhered to the advice provided and kept members of the public safe from potential harm. Premises will continue to be monitored and any non-compliance could result in enforcement action being taken.

“In order to prevent the potential for serious injury, consumers are advised to purchase zero powered Halloween contact lenses only from a registered medical practitioner, a registered optometrist or a registered dispensing optician who must be on the premises to supervise the sale.”