The Many Types of Color Contact Lenses
Colored contacts permit a person to enhance, or even change, his or her eye color. Until 2005, purchasing colored contact lenses did not require a prescription. However, the purchase of a color contact lens now requires a prescription due to numerous incidents of adverse effects, and the potential for significant eye injury. These adverse events have been caused by improper fit, defective manufacturing, misuse, and the sharing of contacts which had 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 have any vision correction. Merchants who sell the color contact lens in the United States without requiring a prescription are likely doing so in violation of the law.
Because of the chance of infection, cosmetic contacts should not be swapped between friends, or used by children without proper professional consultation. Cosmetic contact lenses must be cleaned and cared for with the same diligence and care as corrective contacts, including appropriate disinfection, routine cleaning, and careful storage between use.
As with corrective contacts, coloured contacts are available in several varieties from twenty-four hour lenses to monthly lenses. Some coloured contact lenses have additional protection against harmful ultraviolet radiation from sunlight. Colored lenses vary 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 removal and insertion. 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 enhance their natural color.
The "color tints" are intense tints designed to significantly alter the color of the iris. Colored tint lenses are used for completely changing a person's eye color, as a person might change her hair color. These contacts are also commonly used with holiday theatrical costumes, Halloween costumes, and sporting-event fan costumes.
The final category of lens tints, the "light-filtering tints". These make objects of certain colors stand-out in bright light. These contacts are used much like vision-enhancing sunglasses.
Whether a person's reason for using contact lenses is mainlycosmetic, purely medical, or a mix of both, getting a proper eye exam and prescription from a eye care professional is a critical first-step to ensuring long-term enjoyment of the product without risking damage to the eye.
Published September 15th, 2008
Filed in Health