It’s no secret that glasses and contacts can make for great fashion statements, but with the recent rise in colored contact lenses, you’ve got an entirely new way of showing off your eyes.
“Colored” contact lenses come in a variety of styles, from simply changing your eye color, to adding distinctive visual elements such as patterns or slitted cats-eye pupils. For obvious reasons, these contacts are most popular around Halloween, but plenty of people wear them all the time. You might not even know the “real” eye color of the people around you!
Colored lenses also open up interesting possibilities, such as giving yourself two different eye colors. This isn’t unheard-of in real life, but usually results from some sort of eye damage, genetics, or disease.
If you’re interested in colored contacts, we’ve got a few tips for you:
Important Tips When Wearing Fashionable Colored Contacts
1 – No, your eyesight won’t change.
This is the most common question we get. In nearly all cases, even “extreme” colored or patterned lenses will not affect your vision adversely. Red vampire-style contacts won’t make you “see red,” since they leave a clear section for your pupil to see through.
There are specialty contacts which can help correct for some color-blindness, but that’s another issue.
2 – You don’t need a prescription.
What if you don’t need corrective lenses, but still want to enjoy the fashion potential? No problem! So-called “zero-power” lenses are just clear plastic, so you can change your eyes’ appearance without altering your vision.
3 – Never buy “over the counter.”
It is, in fact, illegal for non-licensed shops to sell contact lenses. Only official ophthalmologists and other eye-care specialists can sell them. However, this doesn’t stop plenty of businesses from selling off-brand contacts anyway – and you’re taking a huge risk if you buy them.
Improperly-made contacts can scratch your eye, or even cause permanent damage. Don’t take the risk on cheap contacts. Buy from a real eye doctor.
Is It Time For A Change?
If you need corrective lenses, look at it as an opportunity! There’s huge fashion potential in colored contact lenses to make a subtle statement every time you wear them.
To learn more, or to schedule an exam to be fitted for new contacts, contact your Phoenix Optometrist today!
