EVERYTHING YOU’VE EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT COLORED CONTACT LENSES

So you get jealous when you hear Van Morrison crooning about those brown eyedgirls, or maybe you wish your green eyes were just a little more vibrant or perhaps you want to take your cosplay game up a notch. Whatever your reason, colored contact lenses can be a convenient, temporary way to enhance or alter your eye color. Wondering if colored contacts are bad for you? Interested in the ins and outs of cosmetic contacts? Look no further than the Fresh Lens guide to colored contacts.

WHAT ARE COLORED CONTACT LENSES?

Prescription colored contact lenses correct your vision just like regular lenses but have the added benefit of either enhancing your existing eye color or changing it completely. There are also “plano” lenses available with no prescriptive power. They’re simply used for cosmetic purposes. While some lenses have a handling tint, which makes them easier to see, this slight tint doesn’t affect your eye color. Colored contacts have a clear opening in the pupil so you can see and color that goes over the iris or sometimes just on the outer-edge of the iris. They typically fall into one of three main categories:

·         Enhancement Tint – These color contacts are tinted but not opaque. They enhance what you’re already working with, hence the name. The result is a natural looking color boost. Brands like FreshLook Dimensions enhance and define color and work well on lighter colored eyes. Or for even subtler results, try something like Acuvue DEFINE, which defines the limbal ring to make whites appear whiter and the eyes more vibrant. It comes in a variety of effects that complement the iris.

Color Tint – These lenses offer opaque color that totally changes your eye color whether or not your eyes are dark or light. If you’re looking for a bold, dramatic transformation, this is the way to go.

Theatrical Lenses – Sometimes called Halloween contact lenses, cosmetic lenses or decorative lenses, these contacts can not only change your eye color but also give you different effects like altering the shape of your pupil. You can rock zombie lenses one day and werewolf ones the next.

HOW DO I CARE FOR COLORED CONTACT LENSES?

You care for colored contact lenses the same way you care for traditional lenses. You’ll want to keep them clean and disinfected, wear them only for the amount of time recommended by your eye care professional, replace them according to the recommended schedule, avoid using them if they’re expired and as we mentioned before, only use colored contact lenses that are FDA-approved and ordered with a prescription. Be sure to read over our post on cleaning your contacts for detailed instructions if you’re a contact lens newbie, or even if you just need a refresher.