How to Wear Colored Contact Lenses Safely

Brown is, by far, the most common eye color, with approximately 70-80% of the global population having brown eyes. Although it doesn't directly affect anything, such as health or personality, research has shown that some eye colors are perceived as more attractive than others. A survey by ContactsDirects found that green is regarded as the most appealing, followed by light blue and hazel. Of course, this is all just perception, but luckily, the eyewear industry has made it possible to switch eye colors temporarily with colored contact lenses.

Whether you require prescriptions or not, colored contact lenses are also a great way to express yourself and change up your look. Still, with them being worn on the eyes, which are among the most delicate body parts, it's important to ensure your safety with proper use. Here are a few tips that may help.

Consult an optometrist first

Despite their prevalence, colored contact lenses are not a "one size fits all" accessory. Some colored or fashion contacts also come with different shapes and patterns, which may not be suitable for everyone. Remember, eyes differ in shape and curvature, and you need an optometrist to determine these measurements. If you wear the wrong ones, especially colored lenses that are bigger in size, they could scratch your eye and impair your vision. Apart from getting fitted for contacts, an eye exam can also check if you have any underlying eye problems that your contact lenses must address. Fortunately, consulting an expert is now more accessible than ever, with eyewear companies like America's Best offering free comprehensive eye exams whenever you buy two of their products. By visiting an optometrist, you can protect your eyes from the wrong type of colored contact lenses.

Buy from a trusted retailer

The popularity of colored contacts has led to the prevalence of unlicensed contact lens providers. Plenty advertise themselves as cheap suppliers of fashion lenses online, but they are rarely safe sources. These lenses are most likely not approved for sale by the Food and Drug Administration and could be made from questionable materials that may harm your eyesight. Instead, you should purchase lenses from optometrist-backed retailers as they understand what's best for your eyes. One retailer that you can trust is LensCrafters, which only sells FDA-approved colored contact lenses. You can choose from industry-leading brands like FreshLook and Dailies, as they offer a wide range of colors, along with a chance for discounts. Through these sites, you're guaranteed to get quality colored lenses that are safe.

Never share colored contact lenses

Although they have a reputation as costume accessories, colored contact lenses should still be treated with care. Thus, sharing colored lenses is highly discouraged. Several studies have discovered that there are differences in the microbes that live on the surface of those who frequently wear contact lenses and those who do not. Using someone else's colored contacts can introduce new germs into your eyes and lead to infections. If you simply want to try more colors, you can buy from the Air Optix Colors line, which provides nine vibrant colors in one pack. These include blue, green, and grey, so you can try as many as you want without endangering your eyes.

Be careful about the expiry of fashion lenses

1 out of every 500 contact lens users contract severe eye conditions that can lead to blindness. Part of this stems from not following the proper care of contact lenses, which are usually determined by their expiration. The most common fashion lenses are usually disposable, meaning that they should only be worn once and never reused. However, there are still colored lenses that can last for up to a month, like those offered by Solotica. These can be worn again, but only with proper sterilization. Lenses must be soaked in contact solutions like Bausch + Lomb's Biotrue Solution to disinfect and moisturize the contacts. This will get rid of any particles from your colored lenses and make them safe to wear once again.