Keep Your Eyes and Ears Ready This Halloween

For many people, Halloween is an opportunity to don a new persona and show off their creativity. From children looking to get the most candy to adults connecting with their favorite movies and TV shows, the holiday brings out the best in people with their costumes. That said, here are a few things to consider when celebrating this Halloween:

Be mindful of your night vision

Your eyes are able to see at night due to chemicals in the rods and cones of your retina called photopigments. One of the photopigments, rhodopsin, regenerates in dark settings after previously being reduced in the light, adjusting your eyes gradually in these conditions. Not everybody can see as clearly in the night, which can be even more complicated on a holiday like Halloween which is meant to be celebrated after the sun goes down. To help your night vision, try to avoid looking at too many bright lights so your eyes can adjust easier.

Watch out for decorative contacts

Want to change your eye color to match your favorite character? Decorative contact lenses may be tempting, but there’s a catch. These specialty lenses are best suited with a prescription from an eye doctor in order to fit properly. By purchasing one from other vendors like costume stores, salons, or third-party websites, you run the risk of having ill-fitting contacts that can scratch the cornea or leave the eye infected.

Limit your exposure to loud noises

Haunted houses and trails have become a fun way to spend Halloween night, and people love the excitement that comes with being scared. What’s not so fun is being surrounded by loud screams, especially in a tight area. Exposure to high-pitched screams at such a close range can damage the hair cells in your cochlea (inner ear), causing ear pain or exacerbating conditions like tinnitus. One remedy to this is to cover your ears or wear earplugs before entering the area.

Keep your ears warm

With Halloween taking place during fall, it might get chilly walking outside from house to house. That cold air can reduce blood flow to your ears the longer you stay outside and cause ear pain. If you or a loved one are wearing hearing aids, the chilly weather can cause condensation to build up and affect the batteries. While Halloween may not be the most frigid time of the year, covering your ears with earmuffs may be beneficial if the weather is expected to be colder or windy.

Halloween can be a great time for anyone of all ages, but eye and ear concerns can be especially frightful. Whether you have vision problems, ear pain, or just need a check-up, CEENTA’s team of eye, ENT, and hearing specialists can keep you informed on the best ways to enjoy the fall time safely. Schedule your next eye, ENT, or audiology appointment with CEENTA today, and have a safe and happy Halloween!

This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your doctor. New patients can make appointments online with our eye and ENT doctors in North and South Carolina and call 704-295-3300 to schedule for our audiologists. Current patients can also make appointments through myCEENTAchart with physicians they have already seen.