Why colored contacts are bad

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Shawn Molloy, O. For Appointment:. What Are Contact Lenses? How Do Contact Lenses Work? Contact lenses actually move with your eye, but they work in a similar way to eyeglasses. Types of Regular Contact Lenses Regular contact lenses are a bit different than colored contact lenses. Hard Contact Lenses Hard contact lenses used to be very common, but are becoming less popular now because they do not provide as much comfort.

While they hold their shape very well, they still let oxygen flow through to get to your eye. Hard contact lenses are helpful for people that have astigmatism or keratoconus. Soft Contact Lenses Soft contact lenses are the type that most people choose to wear. The different types of soft contact lenses are: Daily wear contacts Extended wear contacts Toric contacts Colored contacts Cosmetic contacts All of these soft contacts are meant to be comfortable.

Colored contact lenses are available in prescription forms or Plano forms. The center part of the contact lenses will be clear so that you can see through it regularly. Are Colored Contacts Safe? After removal, carefully wash your contacts with the solution. You also need to wash and air-dry your contacts case each day.

Yes, that means replacing it every day to prevent bacteria. Caring for your contact lenses is a delicate process that requires dedication. Can you be perfectly sure that another person will stick to that routine, just like you? The American Academy of Ophthalmology AAO defines cosmetic or costume contact lenses as those that change the appearance of your eyes. Costume lenses can change the color of your eyes or the shape of your pupils.

The effect can be subtle or dramatic and these lenses come with or without vision correction. Around Halloween new retailers pop up everywhere selling cosmetic colored contact lenses.

Stalls selling these lenses appear in the malls or at weekend markets. New retailers also show up online. No two pairs of eyes are exactly the same. A contact lens prescription includes the precise measurements of your eyes. Purchasing lenses without a prescription is very dangerous.

Costume or decorated contacts are often advertised as fashion accessories, and may seem quite harmless. But the same way ill-fitting shoes rub your heels and pinch your toes, ill-fitting contact lenses can irritate your eyes. This irritation can actually cause the development of corneal ulcers.

A corneal ulcer is an open sore that, if not treated immediately, can require a sight-saving corneal transplant. People who share contact lenses or wear costume lenses that are ill-fitting are at a greater risk of corneal ulcers. You are officially warned! There are many reasons for buying your lenses from a reputable seller.

As stated before, contact lens retailers must request a valid prescription from a recent eye exam from their U. Cosmetic colored lenses can come in a range of prescriptions. Since this area is made up of colorful shapes and lines, some color contacts feature a series of tiny colored dots and radially arranged colored lines and shapes to help the lenses look more natural on the eye.

The center of the lens, the part that lies over your pupil , is clear so you can see. This usually is a light blue or green tint added to a lens, just to help you see it better during insertion and removal, or if you drop it. This is a solid but translucent see-through tint that is a little darker than a visibility tint. As the name implies, an enhancement tint is meant to enhance the natural color of your eyes.

Colored contacts with this type of tint usually are best for people who have light-colored eyes and want to make their eye color more vibrant. These color-blending contacts are designed with tints that become gradually more opaque from the outside edges in, which allows a more natural-looking new eye color.

This is a non-transparent tint that can change your eye color completely. If you have dark eyes, you'll need this type of color contact lens to change your eye color. Color contacts with opaque tints come in a wide variety of colors, including hazel , green , blue, violet , amethyst, brown and gray.

Costume or theatrical contact lenses also fall into the category of opaque color tints. Long used in the movies, these special-effect contact lenses are now widely available for novelty use. You can temporarily transform yourself into an alien, goth or vampire, to name a few. The contact lens color that will suit you best depends on many factors, such as your hair color and skin tone. But, ultimately, it depends on the kind of look you want to achieve — subtle and natural-looking or dramatic and daring.

Whether you want full color or color-enhancing contacts , there are plenty of great options to choose from. If you want to change your appearance but in a more subtle way, you may want to choose an enhancement tint that defines the edges of your iris and deepens your natural color.

And if you want to experiment with a different eye color while still looking natural, you might choose contact lenses in gray or green, for example, if your natural eye color is blue. If you're after a dramatic new look that everyone notices immediately, those with naturally light-colored eyes and a cool complexion with blue-red undertones might choose a warm-toned contact lens such as light brown. Opaque colored tints are the best choice if you have dark eyes. For a natural-looking change, try a lighter honey brown or hazel colored lens.

But if you really want to stand out from the crowd, opt for contact lenses in vivid colors, such as blue, green or violet. And if your skin is dark, bright-colored lenses can create a show-stopping new look. If you're after a truly individualized look, some contact lens manufacturers specialize in creating custom color tints for both prescription and non-prescription contact lenses.

Custom-made tints are created from a variety of colors in varying densities. The colors typically are semi-translucent, creating a natural-looking appearance.