It used to be that colored contact lenses were just for movie props. However, since contact lens manufacturers started making colored contact lenses, people wearing nonprescription and prescription contact lenses also use them daily. Colored contact lenses can make the windows to your soul look different. Choose the type of colored lenses that will work whether you want to make a fashion statement, wear them as part of a costume or wear them for medical purposes.
Enhancement Tints
Colored lenses classified as enhancement tints appear solid but translucent, or see-through. They are a little darker than the regular contact lenses and can enhance the color of your eyes that you already have. Don’t expect your brown eyes to turn blue with enhancement tints. The change is subtle and, often, not noticeable by people who know you. Enhancement tints are ideal for individuals with eyes that are light in color who want to transform their eyes to a darker shade. For example, if you have light brown eyes, wearing enhancement tints will intensify the color of your eyes and turn them into a darker brown.
Color Tints
Compared with enhancement tints, color tints are deeper in colors, which can transform your eye color and pattern completely. They are opaque; therefore, people will not see the original color and pattern of your eyes through them. The center part of the eyes (pupils) remains clear so that people who use them can still see clearly. Color tints come in a plethora of color choices including green, blue, purple and gray. Manufacturers make color tints to look realistic so that people will think that your eyes come naturally with the color you choose, unless they know you up close and personal.
Color tints also come in different patterns or appearance that people use as part of their costumes. Movies that transform humans into beasts use color tints designed to look like they have eyes belonging to animals, werewolves or vampires. Color tints also make wearing costumes during Halloween more fun, not to mention, realistic.
Brightener Tints
Brightener tints are ideal if you want to make a fashion statement and allow people to notice your eyes right away. They make your eyes more vibrant and intense. Brightener tints are pearlescent and can brighten your eyes to make them sparkly, shimmery and luminous.
Prosthetic Contact Lenses
Red color contact lenses can transform the color of your eyes red; they also help alleviate photophobia if ever you are suffering from this condition. If you suffer from photophobia, it means you are sensitive to bright light, whether natural (sunlight) or artificial light. Ophthalmologists often prescribe sunglasses with ultraviolet protection aside from medication to alleviate the symptoms of photophobia. In some cases, they also prescribe prosthetic contact lenses to help reduce the amount of light that enters the eyes. Although prosthetic contact lenses may come in colors similar to natural eye colors, red contact lenses have shown the best results in alleviating photophobia. According to the National Institutes of Health, red contact lenses have dramatically improved the visual function of patients tested and resolved their sensitivity to light.
Photo Credit
- green lens 2 image by Bosko Martinovic from Fotolia.com
