Contact lenses are for two different purposes, the medical devices, and decorative accessories.
The medical devices are prescriptive to correct the user’s vision, while the decorative accessories are worn over the cornea for purely decorative purposes, to enhance the appearance. Read more about these in sites like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contact_lens.
Prescriptive lenses are often colorless, while the decorative ones come in different colors to cover the iris. When the right color is chosen, it can dramatically change one’s appearance.
The Right Pair
Wearing colored contacts can change one’s look dramatically. However, no two people would look the same when using the same colored contacts. This is because skin and hair color is different, and the color of the iris compliments hair and skin color.
If the intention is to cover the eye’s natural color, opaque lenses are best to be used. These will change the entire look of a person as it will give him or her new eye color.
If one only intends to shade the natural eyes color, the color-enhancement lens can be used instead of the opaques.
If a person already has a lighter natural shade, these lenses can brighten then or change them altogether. These may not show any effect on dark eyes, however.
There are those that give a more dramatic effect than the others; some have a dark ring around the iris – these are called circle lenses or sometimes called the equinox which is currently at the top of the trend in colored lenses. Aside from the dramatic effect, this gives a subtle transformation that cannot be recognized immediately.
Colored contacts reduce glare, enhance contrast and heighten the depth of perception. Due to these, they can be used for both cosmetic and practical purposes. They can be used for sports, to enhance the vision of players. In this light, colored pairs can be customized to suit the needs of athletes, like for example, a tennis player can be aided to see the ball clearly if he wears the green one.
Skin Color
It is important, however, that skin color is considered in choosing the right lens color.
Dark skin color, for example, is not just plain and simple “dark”. It can be “warm” or “cool”. When dark skin is “cool”, it means it has a reddish, pinkish, or bluish undertones.
Warm dark skin means a yellow or peach undertone. But there are also dark skins that are neutral and have undertones of both warm and cool.
Lighter skins also have cool and warm undertones. Look at your veins, if it is bluish, you have the “cool” undertones, but if they are greenish, most likely, you are among the “warm” skin tones.
Also, one has to consider the natural eye color. Most often, if you are dark-skinned, you also have dark eyes. If you are light-skinned, most often your natural eye color is green or blue.
Dark eyes may need opaque lenses while light eyes can use subtle shades of green or blue.
Dark eyes can be layered with honey-brown or hazel lenses which will make it look more natural. Dark eyes layered with blue or purple or green will be more noticeable and dramatic.
Hair Color
Now you have considered your skin color. The next thing to consider is your hair color.
Dark-haired individuals should consider dark tones like dark blue or violet. If your hair is at a dramatic level of platinum blonde, consider dramatic lens color as well; opaques of ice blue or emerald green will complement the drama.
Always think about what effect you want when you wear these products. Do you want to just enhance your appearance or do you want to turn heads or do you want a dramatic change in your appearance? Once you have weighed your best choice and the options you have,
You can have or purchase many and different kinds of lenses for different occasions and purposes.
Contact Lens Care
Whether the contact lens you have purchased is prescriptive and for medical reasons or for decorative purposes only, great care is needed on them.
Soft and flexible – it’s soft and allows oxygen to pass through the cornea. The soft ones are disposable and can be used for a day, 2 weeks or 4 weeks.
Hard lens – these are rigid and breakable. This kind of lens is also known as “RPGs”.
Soft lens – allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea. They are disposable and can be worn for one day (daily disposable), 2 weeks, or 4 weeks. Lenses can also be hard, which means they are rigid and breakable. These are also known as “rigid gas permeable” or RPGs.
Contacts must be removed before sleeping. It can be used for days but needs to be removed when you sleep.
People wearing contact lenses are prone to infections in the cornea so it is important that these are worn only as directed and only as prescribed. Corneal infections will result in temporary or long-term damages.
Some lenses develop protein build-up in lenses, especially when they are soft and extended-wear. The protein build-up will cause allergies and may result in damages in the cornea.
Also make sure that your medical history is checked if you happen to have a history of eye infections, serious allergies, or any condition that affects your eyes may be causes for you not to wear lenses even for medical use.
If your work entails exposure to a lot of particle matter in the air, wearing of contacts may not be advisable. And if you are one who will find it difficult to constantly be conscious and aware of taking off and cleaning your contacts, you might as well not wear one.
Always keep them clean and in a safe keeper. Contact lens solutions are available in your favorite optical or eyewear shops. You can also try to explore online like the colored contacts at Misakicon.com.
To ensure that it is always kept clean, wash your hands with soap and water before touching them.
The case must be cleaned every day and changed at least every 3 months. Most important of all, do not ever share with others. You might get infections from other contact lenses.
