People use colored contacts for amazingly aesthetic, beautifying and alluring purposes, like changing the hue of their eye to match an outfit, or complementing your facial makeup and even concealing an ocular injury. There are many styles available, so you can choose a pair based on your needs and best overall appearance for that special look. Like traditional lenses, they come in daily, weekly, or monthly pairs and now with higher oxygen permeability and healthier lenses for maximum eye and corneal health. This guide details what to know about these lenses before getting them.

Styles

Cosmetic contact lenses, also known as decorative or costume lenses, don’t have vision-correcting properties. They’re purely for cosmetic purposes. On the other hand, vision-correcting colored lenses function as standard contacts. Both varieties require a prescription from an eye doctor since they’re considered medical devices.

Different types of colored contacts alter your eyes in a variety of ways. Enhancement tints deepen the natural hue of your eye, while color tints completely alter the apparent shade of your irises. If you’re an athlete, wearing light-filtering lenses may enhance certain hues while muting others. For instance, a basketball player can get contacts that enhance the color orange, making it easier to visually track the ball.

Maintenance

If you currently wear standard lenses, taking care of a colored pair won’t be drastically different. Always wash your hands with soap and water before handling the lenses. Use your fingertips, not your nails, to pick them up and put them in. Never wear them while swimming, as bacteria may get caught under a lens and cause an infection.

Only use an approved sterile solution to clean and rinse the lenses and make sure their case free of particles. If you don’t wear them daily, keep them sanitary by cleaning and placing them in a new solution at least once a month.

If you want to try colored contacts, visit Edwin Y. Endo, OD & Associates in Aiea, Honolulu, HI. These eye care professionals will perform a thorough exam to determine your prescription and current eye health & always the best recommendations for you and your health. If you’re eligible for colored lenses, they’ll take the necessary measurements & expertly determine the best lenses to ensure the products fit comfortably. Visit the website to get more information about their services, or call (808) 487-5500 to schedule an appointment.