Coloured Contact Lenses- There Are Many Types

Colored contact lenses permit a person to enhance, or even change, his or her eye color. Until 2005, buying colored contact lenses did not require a prescription. However, the purchase of a color contact lens currently requires a prescription due to many incidents of adverse effects, and the potential for significant eye injury. These adverse events were caused by poor fit, defective manufacturing, consumer misuse, and the transfer of of harmful bacteria.

Therefore, the color contact lens is no longer classified as an unregulated cosmetic device. They are regulated by the FDA as medical devices regardless of whether or not the contacts give any vision correction. Dealers that sell the color contact lens in the U.S. without requiring a prescription are in violation of the law.

Because of the chance of infection, cosmetic contact lenses should not be swapped among friends, or used by children without proper professional consultation. Cosmetic contacts must be cleaned and cared for with the same diligence and care as corrective contact lenses, including appropriate disinfection, regular cleaning, and careful storage between use.

As with corrective lenses, coloured contacts are available in several varieties from twenty-four hour lenses to monthly lenses. Some coloured contact lenses provide additional protection against harmful ultraviolet radiation from sun. Colored lenses differ from typical corrective vision contacts in the addition of tints to the region of the contacts overlaying the iris. The iris is the naturally colored, circular part of the eye surrounding the dark pupil where light enters. Four different types of tints are added.

A "visibility tint" simply makes the contact more visible for easier insertion and removal. Visibility tints do not alter the eye color. Somewhat more pronounced in color, "enhancement tints" are made to enhance the natural color of the iris. Enhancement tints are often used by people with light-colored eyes who wish to intensify their natural color.

The "color tints" are intense tints designed to dramatically alter the color of the iris. Colored tint lenses completely change a person's eye color, as a someone might change her hair color. These contacts are often used with holiday costumes, theatrical costumes, and sporting-event fan costumes.

The last category of lens tints, the "light-filtering tints". These are designed to make objects of certain colors stand-out in bright light. These contacts are employed much like vision-enhancing sunglasses.

Whether a someone's reason for using contacts is purelycosmetic, purely corrective, or a mix of both, getting a proper examination and prescription from a eye care professional is an essential first-step to ensuring long-term pleasure of the product without taking a chance of damaging your eyes.

Colored Contacts

- Carolyn Thompson

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Health