As people increasingly pursue a refined appearance, not only for cosplay and Halloween parties, colored contact lenses have gradually become a favorite daily beauty accessory for fashionistas. However, many have never used contact lenses before and have many questions and concerns about colored contacts. Don't worry, I have prepared this colored contacts FAQs 2024 to address all your doubts and provide a comprehensive understanding of colored contacts. Let's get started.
1. How do color contacts work?
To understand how colored contacts work, you need to know about their structure. Essentially, colored contact lenses are thin discs made from materials that allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea. They are designed with "sandwich tinting technology" to have three layers: two transparent layers with a pigment layer sandwiched in between, where the inner layer protects the cornea from contact with the pigments. By tinting the lens, it changes the appearance of the iris (the colored part of the eye) to enhance or alter the eye color. Their functions and structures are as follows:
Inner and outer layers:
The inner and outer layers of the lens are usually the same, with the inner layer in direct contact with the eyeball, directly affecting the wearer's comfort and visual experience. Therefore, it must be made of soft and hydrophilic materials. Currently, HEMA and silicone hydrogel are the two mainstream materials used for making lenses. Generally, silicone hydrogel offers better oxygen permeability than HEMA.
Pigment layer:
The soul of the colored lens lies in the pigment layer, which is key to the vibrancy of the lens pattern and color. This layer is based on hydrogel or silicone hydrogel, blended with pigments such as iron oxide black, iron oxide yellow, iron oxide red, carmine, phthalocyanine copper, and titanium dioxide. These are created through dye mixing, impregnation, covalent bonding, and printing methods. By using opaque or semi-transparent dyes, the otherwise ordinary materials are rendered into unique and beautiful patterns, making the wearer's eyes shine brightly like gems.
2. Are colored contacts safe?
Colored contact lenses have been widely used for nearly 40 years and their safety has been adequately demonstrated. They are safe when used properly, but you still need to treat them like regular contact lenses to ensure safety. To use and care for them correctly, you should always follow the guidelines provided by your eye care professional or the product's instructions. Here are some basic usage tips:
- Thoroughly wash your hands before and after wearing.
- Use proper contact lens cleaning solutions for cleaning and disinfecting.
- Avoid using expired contact lenses and care solutions.
- Do not wear contact lenses while sleeping unless they are designed for overnight wear.
- Regularly replace contact lenses, adhering to the recommended replacement schedule.
3. Is it bad to wear colored contacts everyday (for long periods)?
It is not recommended to wear colored contact lenses for long periods every day. Most eye care professionals advise that the daily wearing time for contact lenses should not exceed 12-16 hours. Exceeding this time may increase the risk of eye infections or other complications. The most severe threat to the cornea from colored contacts is insufficient oxygen supply, which can lead to the following metabolic disorders:
Corneal Edema
The cornea's primary energy source is glucose oxidation. After wearing colored contacts, glucose cannot be fully oxidized, leading to insufficient energy in the cornea, weakening the barrier function of epithelial cells, and allowing tear liquid to permeate the stroma. At the same time, the endothelium, which acts as a "water pump," is also unable to expel the water in the cornea into the aqueous humor. Additionally, the increased gap between endothelial cells allows water from the aqueous humor to enter, exacerbating the already precarious corneal water cycle, leading to corneal edema.
Excessive Vascular Growth
To supply sufficient oxygen to the cornea after wearing colored contacts, peripheral tissues grow blood vessels deep into the stromal area of the cornea, utilizing blood for oxygen supply. This can lead to vascular shadows at the pupil edge that are difficult to eliminate. Also, hypoxia can trigger chronic inflammation of the cornea, produce inflammatory cells and vasoactive substances, activate vascular growth factors, and cause excessive growth of blood vessels in the limbal area of the cornea, extending into the stromal layer, and even reaching the pupil, severely affecting vision.
Corneal Acidosis
If the cornea is severely deprived of oxygen due to improper wearing of colored contacts, glucose undergoes anaerobic oxidation, resulting in lactic acid accumulation, acidifying the cornea, lowering the environmental pH, and ultimately causing corneal acidosis, leading to infiltrative keratitis, infectious keratitis, and other conditions.
However, you don't need to worry excessively, as these are damages that could occur under extreme conditions. Do not wear them for prolonged periods, especially while sleeping, as this can cause the cornea to suffer from "suffocation" due to severe oxygen metabolic disorders. By following the mentioned usage tips and choosing high-oxygen-permeable lenses, even if used as an accessory, wearing them for less than 12 hours a day should not pose safety issues.
4. Which lens material is best? Hydrogel vs. Silicone Hydrogel vs. HEMA vs. PMMA
The table below lists four common materials for colored contact lenses, along with a comparison of their advantages and disadvantages. For initial trials, Hydrogel and HEMA materials can be chosen, and PMMA is not recommended. For later, heavy use, you can try Silicone Hydrogel.
| Material | Features | Suitability | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrogel | Very soft, contains a lot of water. Very comfortable with moderate breathability. | Suitable for daily wear, especially for those new to contact lenses. | Relatively low oxygen permeability, long-term wear may lead to corneal hypoxia. High water content may absorb more pollutants and proteins, increasing the risk of infection. |
| Silicone Hydrogel | Higher oxygen permeability, increasing comfort for long-term wear. | Suitable for users who need to wear contact lenses for extended periods. | Usually more expensive than regular hydrogel lenses. Silicone components may cause eye sensitivity reactions in some people. Can be harder, which might be uncomfortable for new users. |
| HEMA | Good softness and moderate water content. | Suitable for producing lower-cost contact lenses, commonly used in economical product lines. | Oxygen permeability and moisture retention are not as good as silicone hydrogel, not suitable for long-term wear. |
| PMMA | Early contact lens material, hard, contains no water, poor breathability. | Now rarely used as material for colored contacts, more often used for rigid contact lenses. | Almost no oxygen permeability, hard material, low comfort in wear, not recommended. |
5. What are daily disposable or yearly disposable colored contact lenses?
Daily or yearly disposable colored contact lenses refer to the replacement frequency of the lenses, with daily or monthly disposals considered short-term, and semi-annual or annual disposals considered long-term. During the wearing of colored contacts, regardless of the material type and cleaning frequency, proteins and other deposits will accumulate on the lenses, affecting clarity and comfort. Therefore, it is necessary to replace the colored contact lenses according to the wearing period.Short-term disposable lenses have a higher water content, and hydrogel colored contacts with high water content have better oxygen permeability and comfort. However, to maintain water content, colored contacts absorb moisture from the surface of the eyeball, and higher water content can cause more dryness, though the shorter the wearing time, the lesser the dryness.
Interestingly, based on this characteristic, in Mayoe Shigematsu's detective novel "Farewell to the Gods" in the story "The Long Road to the Dam," the police deduce the time of death by the water content and shape changes in the victim's colored contacts.
6. When were colored contact lenses invented?
As early as the early 16th century, the renowned Leonardo da Vinci proposed the idea of wearing lenses directly on the eyes.In 1887, Adolf Eugen Fick of Germany successfully created the first pair of contact lenses, specifically glass scleral shells, which he had a patient wear for 20 years until his death.
In 1938, scientists made the first full plastic contact lenses using RMMA material.
In the 1950s, Czech chemist Otto Wichterle developed a highly hydrophilic material, HEMA, and made the first soft contact lenses.
Colored contact lenses were first developed and introduced in 1987.
They have been continually updated since, incorporating advanced materials like silicone hydrogel, non-ionic, and MPC silicone hydrogel. A timeline of the development of colored contact lenses is provided below.
7. Where can I buy prescription and non-prescription colored contacts?
Colored contact lenses can be purchased from a variety of sources, each offering different brands, styles, and price points. Here are some common places where you can buy colored contacts:
Optical stores or cosmetic accessory shops: Many brick-and-mortar eyewear retail chains offer colored contact lenses. These stores usually also provide eye exams and professional assistance to ensure a proper fit. However, you need to purchase in person, and the prices are generally 30% to 80% higher than online.
Online contacts retailers: Websites that specialize in selling contact lenses or general eye care products often have a variety of colored contact lenses available. They tend to cater more to traditional contact lenses, which may not be ideal for those seeking fashion or the latest cosplay characters. Sites such as 1-800 Contacts, Lens.com, and Coastal are examples.
Specialized websites: If you are looking for unique and latest styles, specialized colored contact websites are your best choice, especially for lenses used in cosmetics or costume design. These sites almost exclusively sell colored contacts, offering the latest and most unique styles, with both prescription and non-prescription lenses available, including Kriseye, HoneyColor, and ColorCL, among others. Kriseye, in particular, is known for high quality and low prices.
Colored contact lenses, like regular glasses, are available in both prescription and non-prescription options. If you are unsure of your prescription, especially if it's your first time buying colored contacts, you must consult an eye care professional and choose lenses that match your prescription. Please ensure that the lenses you buy are approved by the FDA or CE (or your local regulatory agency) to avoid any risks to your eye health.
8. How much do colored contacts cost?
The price of colored contact lenses can vary significantly based on various factors, including brand, type (prescription or non-prescription), usage duration (daily, monthly, yearly), and place of purchase. Here are some examples from physical stores in the USA:
- Daily Disposable Colored Contacts: Since these do not require cleaning, they are generally more expensive. A box of 10 pairs costs approximately $20 to $30.
- Monthly Disposable Colored Contacts: These are more cost-effective for frequent users, typically priced between $40 and $70 per box, which usually contains 6 lenses (3 pairs).
- Yearly Disposable Colored Contacts: If well-maintained, these lenses can be worn for up to a year, with prices ranging from $50 to over $100 per pair.
- Custom and Special Effect Colored Contacts: These lenses, designed for specific cosmetic or theatrical purposes (e.g., significantly changing eye color or creating special effects), can be more expensive. Prices per pair range from $50 to several hundred dollars.
It's also important to consider additional costs, such as those for care solutions and potentially for contact lens cases, as well as potential costs for eye exams and fittings, especially for prescription lenses.
Physical stores generally have higher prices and offer fewer styles but may provide services such as vision testing. In contrast, purchasing from specialized websites can be significantly cheaper and offers a broader range of choices and better discounts, though you should consider shipping costs and delivery times to avoid missing important events.
Moreover, when shopping at night, it's crucial to buy from a reputable source. For example, Kriseye uses high-quality HEMA materials, and their yearly disposable color contacts average between $20 to $30 per pair, meeting FDA and CE standards, and offer a comprehensive range of styles suitable for both cosplay and everyday use.
9. How to Choose the Right Colored Contacts for You
Having read this far, you should now have a comprehensive understanding of colored contact lenses. Combining the above information will help you know how to choose the right colored contact lenses for yourself. Here are some steps and tips to help you make the best choice:
Consult an Eye Care Specialist
Before purchasing colored contacts, make sure to have a recent eye exam. An eye care specialist will ensure your eyes are healthy enough for contact lens wear and provide a prescription, even for non-prescription (plano) lenses.
Determine the Purpose
There are two types of colored contacts: enhancement tints (which intensify your natural eye color) and opaque tints (which completely change your eye color). Choose based on whether you want to enhance your natural color or achieve a completely different look. For daily use, consider natural enhancement lenses. For Halloween or cosplay, choose lenses with exaggerated patterns and designs tailored for cosplay characters, which you can generally find on websites under respective categories.
Consider Your Natural Eye Color
If you have light eyes, enhancement tints are particularly effective as they brighten and intensify your natural color. Opaque tints are usually necessary to significantly change the color of dark eyes, as they are designed to completely cover the natural eye color. However, with advancements in contact lens tinting technology, some colored contacts no longer differentiate by suitable eye color, such as Kriseye's lenses which support all eye colors.
Lens Diameter
The larger the diameter, the more it covers the pupil, which can make your eyes appear larger. If you want your eyes to look bigger, consider lenses with a diameter of 14.5mm or more. In addition, choose colored contacts with obvious limbal rings can also have a stronger impact and eye-enlarging effect.
Usage Habits and Budget
Now that you know comfort and safety depend on wear time, and more expensive materials offer better oxygen permeability and water retention, suitable for longer wear. If you're a heavy daily user, needing to wear contacts for over 12 hours, consider silicone hydrogel lenses, though they are generally more expensive. If you only need to wear them for special occasions, like meetings, Halloween parties, or cosplay events, you can opt for cheaper HEMA lenses.
Safety First
Ensure that the lenses are FDA and CE approved (or meet equivalent safety standards outside the USA) to ensure safe usage. Also, thoroughly read the usage instructions before use.
Summary
These are the 9 FAQs about colored contact lenses I've compiled for you. After reading this, you should have a better understanding of whether colored contact lenses are right for you. When used properly, colored contact lenses can be a charming addition to your daily life. If you're considering trying them, why not explore the world of high-quality colored contact lenses prepared for you at Kriseye? Let's discover the colorful world of Kriseye together!