Basics of Colored Contact Lenses
Where did colored contacts originate?
Colored contact lenses are becoming more and more popular nowadays and are
no longer limited to just theatrical use. Visibility tints, enhancement tints, and opaque
color tints are the three basic types of colored contact lenses that are
sold in the market based on the amount of tint that they have. The visibility tint does not change the colors of the eyes
because the tint used is very light and simply makes the colored contacts
more visible to the user. On the opposite side of the range are the opaque
color tints which are purposefully used to change eye color using solid
patterns of colors that are deeper in tint than the visibility type color
contacts. The enhancement tint type lies in between it does
not change eye color since the tint is translucent but is has solid color
tints.
Colored
contact lenses are also available for those with astigmatism or those who
need bifocal corrective lenses aside from the regular cosmetic type which
have no corrective powers.
Because of the discovery of possible risks
of blindness and other eye injuries, the Food and Drug Administration has
regulated the use and issuance of colored contact lenses. You
now need a doctor’s prescription to purchase color contacts. Sharing or swapping
contact lenses are a bad idea too since this can be the cause of
transmission of eye infection regardless of whether they are tinted or not.
Is a colored contact lens more expensive than a normal contact lens?
Color contact lens is more expensive than regular contacts for several
reasons. Manufacturers incur additional research
expenses for color contacts than regular contacts.
Tinting the contact lenses is also an added expense during production and
because they manufacture lesser quantities of colored contact lenses versus
regular ones, the economies of scale are not the same.
What color options do colored contact lenses provide?
Changing eye color is the most
dramatic way of changing your look. Colored contact lenses are produced to
change eye color but manufacturers try to make it look as natural as
possible and allow you to still be able to see. They do this by keeping the
pupil area clear and tinting only the iris area. Just like
other cosmetic changes, there are disadvantages to these kinds of contacts.
There is a possibility that the contacts will move
when you blink and if the colored area moves over your pupil, your vision
will be affected. Depending on the varying light available, the
pupil sizes change specifically enlarging during nighttime while the clear
area allocated for pupils of these contacts remain constant. In situations such
as these, you might experience problems with your vision. It is always
best, however, to consult your doctor regardless of the situation.