Types of Colored Contact Lenses

Colored contact lenses do more than just temporarily change your eye color. The lenses can also improve vision and comfort for people with certain eye conditions. Whether you want to transform your appearance or need help managing a vision condition, colored contact lenses offer a good option.

Cosmetic Colored Contact Lenses

Wish your eyes were darker or blue instead of green? Cosmetic colored contact lenses provide a simple way to transform your appearance. Colored contact lenses are available in a variety of colors, including blue, green, brown, hazel, and grey.

Common cosmetic tints include:

• Visibility Tint. You may have noticed that your contact lenses look slightly blue or green. This color makes it easier to see your contacts when putting them in your eyes, but doesn't change the color of your irises.
• Enhancement Tint. When you want to deepen your current eye color rather than change it completely, translucent enhancement tint lenses are ideal. The lenses intensify your natural eye color and deepen the shade. They can be a good choice for people with light-colored irises who prefer more vibrant colors.
• Opaque Tint. Opaque tint contact lenses contain a solid layer of color that can completely change your appearance. These contact lenses are a good choice if you want to make your brown eyes look blue or your blue eyes look green. Opaque tints are available in a variety of shades in each color family.

Do you want a dramatic eye color for Halloween party or performance? Buying a pair of costume colored contact lenses online or at a party supply store may seem like the easiest option. Although over-the-counter colored lenses will change your eye color, they can irritate or damage the eyes, increasing your risk for an eye infection. The lenses may also contain harmful chemicals that are toxic to the eyes, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

For safety's sake, it's best to obtain your colored contact lenses from your optometrist. Your eye doctor will measure your eyes to determine the best size and type of contact lenses and recommend FDA-approved lenses that will help you create a special look.

Therapeutic Colored Contact Lenses

Therapeutic contact lenses can help with several vision issues, including

• Red-Green Color Blindness. Red-green color blindness affects your ability to see red and green colors. If you have this type of color blindness, your optometrist may recommend red-tinted contact lenses that improve contrast between colors.
• Glare. Tinted colored lenses offer a simple solution if glare is a problem when playing sports or using your laptop. Available in green, blue, violet, and yellow tints, the lenses reduce glare and improve contrast.
• Retinal Diseases. Eye diseases that affect the light-sensitive retina at the back of the eye can alter your vision and increase light sensitivity. Teenagers and young adults with retinal diseases who wore red-tinted lenses experienced less sensitivity and sharper vision, according to a research study published in Optometry and Vision Science in 2016.
• Albinism. Albinism occurs when your body doesn't produce melanin or doesn't make enough of the pigment that gives your skin, hair, and irises their color. If you don't like the light blue, pink, or red color of your eyes, tinted contact lenses may be a good choice. In addition to changing your eye color, the lenses also reduce light sensitivity, a common problem in people with albinism.
• Eye Damage or Abnormalities. Special color contact lenses can cover noticeable scars on the eyes or improve the appearance of other abnormalities. If standard colored contact lenses don't hide eye problems, your eye doctor may recommend hand-painted contact lenses. These lenses are specially designed to hide your eye irregularities and improve the appearance of your eyes.
• Iris Conditions. Tiny muscles in your irises control the movements of the pupil as it decreases or increases in size based on light levels. Eye conditions, injuries or eye surgeries could weaken the muscles, increasing light sensitivity and blurriness. Colored contact lenses sharpen your vision, decrease light sensitivity, and reduce the amount of light that enters the eyes. The lenses can also be helpful if you have aniridia, a condition that occurs when part of the iris is missing.

Ready to change your appearance or improve your vision with colored contact lenses? Contact our office to schedule an appointment.

Sources:

American Academy of Ophthalmology: Over-the-Counter Costume Contacts May Contain Chemicals Harmful to Eyes, 9/26/2024