Colored Contact Lenses - Which are Best for You?

Colored contact lenses are well-established as one of today’s most popular fashion accessories. For sure, they’re one of ours – more so particularly right now with Eid Al Adha around the corner! The perfect partner to the rise of bold and bright eyeshadows… from catwalk to sidewalk… everyone is doing it!

Colored contact lenses are oh-so-easy to use, but there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind if you’re going to be sure to find the best contacts for you, and you’ll need to know our top tips on how to take good care of them!

You can wear colored contacts to alter the appearance of your natural eye color, whether or not you need prescription eyewear.

What is a colored contact?

There are two basic types of colored contact lens.

The first are prescription color contacts.

Following an eye exam by your optician (you can take a M TEST in any branch of MAGRABi for free!) you can be prescribed colored lenses to correct near-sightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and irregularly shaped corneas (astigmatism). Corrected vision and the opportunity to enhance or completely change your eye color in one!

The second type of colored contact is a plano.

You’ve got 20/20 vision? These are the lenses for you! With zero power of vision correction, when used for purely cosmetic purposes they offer the same full palate of options for changing or enhancing the color of your eyes!

Beyond this, it’s good to know how they work, and how they are created in a way that mimics your eyes’ natural look!

The colored part of your eye – the iris – is comprised of many colors… and many shapes. Look closely, and you’ll notice that today’s colored contacts include countless colors dots and a swirl of colourful lines – the combination of these helps give the lenses a natural look when placed on the eye. The center of the lens – the area that cover your iris (essentially, the viewing part of your eye!) is left clear – so the tinted lens doesn’t color your view of the entire world!

Speaking of tints, there are three kinds of tints for colored lenses. One for purely practical purposes, a second to add a slight enhancement to your natural color, and a third to add a dramatic change to your eye color!

Which lens is for you?

Visibility tint: the softest of the color additions to an otherwise clear lens. It won’t change the color of your eyes… but it will make your lenses more visible and easier to handle during insertion, removal and cleaning!

Enhancement tint: darker than a visibility tint, an enhancement tint does exactly what it says by enhancing the natural color of your eyes. These work to great effect on those of us with paler eyes – pale-blue or light-green in particular – as they’ll add a depth and vibrancy to make nature envious!

Opaque tint: perhaps what most people think of when colored lenses come up in conversation. Lenses with an opaque tint can change the color of your eyes COMPLETELY! Dark eyes? These are the lenses to choose when you want to add or change your color! You can choose from a wide variety of colors including blue, green, hazel, brown, grey, violet and more!

Which color is for you?

Well, who do you want to be today? While the color of lenses you’ll choose may be influenced by your hair color and skin tone, in the end, you’ll be the one to decide whether it’s a time to be daring and bold, or elegant and understated.

There are some basic rules to remember though…

• For light eyes: to retain a natural look, but to enhance what you already have, go for an enhancement tint – choose something that will add a richness to your natural color but that remains ‘you’. It’ll leave them focusing on your eyes, rather than focusing on the puzzle of “is she / isn’t she wearing colored lenses”! If you’re in the mood to add a little drama (and why not?!) go for a warm-colored lenses… a light brown perhaps! These will add a pop of definition – and mark you as someone who’s not afraid to stand out from the crowd!

• For dark eyes: opaque tints are the way forward here. And, just because you’ve got dark eyes, it doesn’t mean your only option is high-drama and show-stopping effect! Choose a tone a couple of shades lighter than your natural color. Brown eyes? Pick a honey brown. Hazel? Light hazel! for those days and nights where you do want to be the one attracting all the right attention, go for vivid colored lenses – green, violet or blue. If your skin is dark too… you’ll have the camera flashes popping!

Prescribed, fitted, worn and cared-for correctly, colored contact lenses are an entirely safe way to change your appearance!  

What are the potential drawbacks of wearing colored contact lenses?

The good news is, there are very few reasons why you shouldn’t be wearing colored lenses! Some things to be aware of though include:

• although colored lenses are available in a variety of sizes (to accommodate an individual’s pupil size and cover it entirely), the lens may sometimes move slightly – for example when blinking. This can deliver an unnatural appearance – especially where strongly contrasting opaque lenses are being used. Once you’re aware, the lens can easily be replaced accurately.
• while the iris opens and closes in reaction to the availability of light, the area of a colored contact lens that covers the iris is fixed in size. While it will be suitable for most lighting conditions, wearers may experience a slight deterioration of vision during extremely low-light conditions at a time when the iris expand to fully open, when they may be wider than the clear center of your lenses. This is a temporary effect, and is not harmful to the eyes.
• as with any contact lenses, there are some risks associated with colored contacts, including the potential for an eye infection, allergic reaction, decreased vision, or scratches on the cornea.

Color contact lenses – FAQ

It’s question and answer time! Here’s our concise takeaway on colored contact lenses.

I don’t wear glasses or contact lenses. Can I still use colored lenses to alter my appearance?

Yes! Colored lenses are suitable for everyone. While we recommend taking an eye test anyway (you may be surprised to find you’ll benefit from a slight amount of visual correction, and an eye test can sometimes reveal otherwise hidden eye conditions), special colored lenses are made with zero lens power for those who require no optical correction.

My friend loves my new look! Can she borrow my lenses?

Sadly, no. Sharing lenses may transmit harmful bacteria which could lead to many forms of vision-threatening eye infections. Also, prescription contact lenses are medical devices – they are created and fitted to the specifics of the wearer’s eyes.

I’m getting ready to go out. When should I insert my colored lenses?

The best time to insert your colored (or any) contact lenses is before applying makeup. While there are wise medical and hygiene reasons for this – when you’re going out with colored lenses you’ll be able to finely balance your makeup to match your new eye color! Also, remove your contacts before removing your makeup.

My optician told me to replace my lenses every six months. I still wear them, and they’re fine. Can I continue to wear them?

Some lenses last for as little as a single day. Others last for up to two weeks, one month, or a year at a time. Although it is possible to wear your contacts past their replacement date, it is not recommended. Doing so can cause irritation or infections.

What are the specific care instructions for colored contact lenses?

There’s nothing specific about colored lenses. All contact lenses must be cleaned correctly, properly disinfected, and safely stored – be sure to use specialized lens care products and avoid cross-contamination.

I love my new lenses, I love my new look. But the lenses have made my eyes a little red, and a little sore. Should I keep wearing them to allow my eyes to great accustomed to my new lenses?

If your eyes are sore, swollen, red, or if your vision becomes altered, you must stop wearing your lenses immediately and consult your eye-care professional.