Want Colored Contacts? Here's How To Wear Them Safely

Do you wish your eyes were a different color? Perhaps you have blue eyes and wish you had deep brown ones, or maybe you've grown tired of your brown eyes and want a unique, purple look. In either case, colored lenses allow you to achieve the look you crave -- but there are some things to keep in mind to ensure you go about obtaining and using them safely.

Always buy your lenses from an eye doctor.

There are websites online selling colored lenses without a prescription. While this may be the most efficient, cost-effective way to get colored lenses, it is simply not safe. Even if you don't need contacts to amplify your vision, you need to obtain them from an eye doctor, rather than from an online vendor. The eye doctor will measure the size and shape of your eye to ensure you've given contacts that fit properly. One-size-fits-all lenses or those that are the wrong size for you may not allow your eye to "breathe" properly, leading to infections and dry eyes.

Consider semi-opaque lenses rather than opaque lenses.

There are two main styles of colored contact lenses. Semi-opaque lenses are generally clear with some tint applied to the area that will be in front of your iris when the lens is inserted. Opaque lenses are completely solid with just a clear "hole" in the middle where your pupil is. Dramatic colors, like white or pink, can only be achieved with opaque lenses. However, more subtle colors like blue and brown can be achieved with semi-opaque lenses.  

If you can possibly achieve the color you want with semi-opaque lenses rather than opaque lenses, do so. The semi-opaque lenses breathe a lot better, reducing your chances of an infection. They also don't cause shadows in your visual field as opaque lenses sometimes do.

Change your lenses as recommended by your eye doctor.

Many people with colored contact lenses only wear them from time to time, rather than every day. However, this does not mean you can wear the same lenses for a year without changing them. Even if you're not wearing your lenses each day, as they sit in your case, bacterial and fungal growth can occur. This could lead to an eye infection. Your eye doctor will advise you as to how often to change your lenses. Some lenses must be changed every 2 weeks, for example, while others can last 2 months or longer. Set a reminder in your phone if you're struggling to remember to change your lenses.

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