Since color contacts came onto the scene, there have been an increasing number of options to change or enhance a person’s eye color. There are two broad categories of lenses: those that have sheer or transparent tints and those that have opaque tints.
Individuals with light colored eyes can wear either type. Individuals with dark colored eyes generally see more dramatic effects with opaque lenses that cover their natural eye color.
The remarkable thing about color contacts is that you don’t need to have poor eyesight to wear these lenses! You can have great eyesight and still be fit with lenses. It is important to remember, though, that color contacts are considered a medical device. Because of this, the fitting process for color contacts is the same as non-tinted lenses. Measurements must be taken of the eye in order to determine the proper fit. Assessment of the fit of the lenses on the eye and the impact that could have on eye health must be evaluated. Once a good fit is achieved, then the fun with colors can begin! It is important to try on the colors that you are interested in because different colors have different appearances on each individual.
There are many colors available from a number of different lens manufacturers. Some of the colors include the more common blue, brown, green, and hazel. There are also colors like violet, honey, gray, and aqua.
More than a few athletes have also discovered the advantages of wearing contacts when participating in sports or working out, and many have also changed their eye color with color contacts. Contacts don’t steam up from perspiration, don’t smudge and don’t get foggy if you go from cold to warm temperatures. They provide better depth perception and peripheral vision. Today’s close-fitting contacts stay on your eyes, even during vigorous activity and strenuous physical competitions.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the distribution and use of color contacts. Without a valid prescription, fitting, supervision, or regular check-ups by a qualified eye care professional, color contacts, like all contact lenses, can cause a variety of serious injuries or conditions. For example, lens wear has been associated with corneal ulcer, which can quickly lead to internal ocular infection if left untreated. Uncontrolled infection can cause corneal scarring, which can lead to vision impairment, and in extreme cases, blindness or the loss of an eye. Other risks include conjunctivitis; corneal edema (swelling); allergic reaction; abrasion from poor lens fit; reduction in visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and other visual complications that can interfere with driving and other activities.
Because of these risks, color contacts are not safe for use except under the supervision of a licensed eye care practitioner. The FDA believes that these risks cannot be sufficiently controlled unless the wearer gets advice about using contact lenses from a licensed professional, receives a valid prescription, has the lenses fitted properly, and remains under appropriate professional care for contact lens use.
The FDA is aware that consumers without valid prescriptions have bought color contacts from beauty salons, record stores, video stores, flea markets, convenience stores, beach shops and the internet. Buying contact lenses without a prescription is dangerous!
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