Color Contact Review for a Fabulous New You

Eye Lash Falling in The Eyes of Contact Lens Wearers

2011-10-31T07:50:00.000-07:00

One of the most irritating things in the world for someone who wears contact lenses is when they have an eyelash that falls in their eye. It's a horrible feeling, and often requires you to remove the contact lenses in order to get the eyelash out. If you are the type that does not really like to share that you wear color contact lenses, that can be a huge problem.

Of course it is impossible to completely make sure no eye lash at all will ever fall in your eye while you wear your contacts, but I have mastered a trick that has really decreased the amount of times I am faced with this issue.

In the morning, prior to getting my contacts in, I close my eyes, one at a time so that the other eye is open and able to see, and gently rub and pull my eye lashes so that loose ones will come off prior to me putting my contact lenses in. You would be surprised how many eye lashes often fall out. If you do that you will most likely not have the issue of an eye lash falling in your eye during the day.

However, just in case that does happen, I recommend the following:

1) Always carry a mirror with you so you can see the problem and be able to address it anywhere,
2) Always carry contact lens solution with you to re-wet the lenses if you must remove them from your eye,
3) always carry hand sanitizer to sanitize your hands prior to handling the contacts
4) always carry a contact lens case in case your eye becomes irritated and you cannot wear your contact again for the rest of the day.

Getting Fitted For Contact Lenses

2011-10-31T07:41:00.000-07:00

I have been a color contact lens wearer for more than 10 years. Initially, I was not fitted for the contact lenses, but I did try out different brands until I found one that felt comfortable.

Then 2 years ago I became worried that I was ruining my eyes, and decided to go to an eye doctor to be properly fitted. I thought being fitted for contact lenses meant that they would use a machine to measure my eye and tell me exactly what size contact best fit me, and test the moisture of my eye to tell me the water contact and material the lenses needed to be.

What I found out was that the eye doctor does not have such device. They simply try on different brands (which all have a patent for different lens sizes that become their unique right to produce) until I told them that I felt comfortable wearing them all day. The most they ever did was look at my contact lens through that magnifying machine to see whether there were air bubbles under my lens.

So as it turns out properly fitted lenses are achieved by trial and error - something anyone can do on their own as long as they are honest with themselves. Many people like certain brands or colors too much to give them up, so they force themselves to continue wearing them despite great discomfort. That can be very damaging.

As long as you take proper care of your lenses, disinfecting them daily, always washing your hands and drying them thoroughly before handling the contacts, and using lint-free hand towels, you should be fine. Remember, tap water, even if just a little moist of it left from improperly dried hands after washing, can cause you to have a bacterial infection in your eye. Never use anything other than contact lens solution to clean and store your lenses. You can use the Clear Care cleaning kit (and you should), and I also recommend products like enzyme cleaner and protein removers such as Myoflow to really make sure there is no debris in your contacts. Wear sunglasses outside, especially if it is windy, when you are wearing your contact lenses so no debris gets in your eye.

Is It Safe To Purchase Color Contact Lenses Abroad?

2011-10-31T07:28:00.000-07:00

Many people have become fascinated with the color contact brands from other countries, like Brazil, Argentina and Italy. Brands like Magic Top, Solotica, Waicon, and Adore are very popular now a days. It can sometimes be puzzling for Americans (since we always think our country is the best at everything) why the color contact lenses from other countries are so much better than the ones here. Of course there are brands here that are just as good, such as FXEyes and 9MM, as well as other custom contact lens designers. But when it comes to commercial brands, the US falls VERY short in quality and comfort. Freshlooks, Acuvue, etc. do not offer the same amazing color changing contacts that we can find in the foreign commercial brands. That is because the commercial brands in the US have lenses that are 1) too thin, making them move around too much, come out too easily (e.g. when one blinks), and dry out the eyes, 2) have huge pupil openings, which make the natural color too visible and the color contact too obvious, 3) not opaque enough, which means that the color of the contact is not going to be the same in your eye as it looks in the vile, and 4) are made by machines - not painted by hand as most foreign lenses are - making them very artificial looking. They look like they were printed by the computer. It usually looks obviously fake.

The FDA does not authorize the purchase of foreign lenses unless you are a citizen of that country, but we are able to do so anyway via the internet. Although it is comprehensible that our government would try to protect us from untested medical devices (which contact lenses, whether or not for cosmetic use, clearly are). However, maybe instead of trying to ban those lenses from coming in, they should realize that they are much better than the ones we have here and test them to approve them.

So, the question is, it is safe to purchase foreign lenses? The answer is, for the most part, yes. At least when it comes to the websites like Viallure and WRLens, these companies are reputable, accept paypal so you have buyer protection, and the lenses are great quality, even better than the ones here. If you are worried about the fact that you are not being "properly fitted" by a medical doctor, you have to remember that you can get the lenses and then go to an eye doctor to see if they see air bubbles under the lens or whether they think the lenses move around in your eye too much. After all, many people buy American lenses online without prescription too. I will post an entry regarding the "proper fitting" of lenses next to better explain what that means. I may have an old entry on the subject as well.

Magic Top Turquesa (Turquoise)

2011-10-31T07:20:00.000-07:00

Ok, as promised, here are the Turquoise ones. They are amazing, and this picture does not do justice because it was taken in not enough lighting. The most amazing thing I should add about the Magic Top lenses is that they have a small pupil opening and do not move around in your eyes. They allow for perfect oxygen amount to penetrate and are very opaque without being too thick. They are actually hand painted (at least that is what I heard from the manufacturer).

Diamater: 14.2 mm, BC 8.2, 8.5 or 8.8 (you choose) Water Content: 38 %, Material: HEMA-NVP, Oxygen Permeability: DK: 12 , DKL: 13.5.

Price: around $105. Can be purchased online at Viallure or WRLens.

Magic Top Azul (Blue)

2011-10-31T07:10:00.000-07:00

Despite the rave about Solotica Lenses, I have to say that when it comes to comfort, natural looking yet dramatic color change and fit, no lenses compare to the Brazilian Magic Top lenses. I have been wearing them daily for 10 years. I can wear them up to 12-16 hours without them becoming too irritating, and as long as they are properly cared for they will probably last you that long too.

These lenses are yearly lenses, cost around $105 for the pair, and come in six (6) colors: Azul (blue), Cinza (gray), Turqueza (turquoise), Verde (green), Mel (honey) and Lavanda (Lavender). They also come in three different Base Curve sizes, 8.2, 8.5, and 8.8, which allow more people to be able to find a perfect fit with them. They come in the standard 14.2 diameter.

Diamater: Water Content: 38 %, Material: HEMA-NVP, Oxygen Permeability: DK: 12 , DKL: 13.5

I have tried four colors: Blue, Green, Turquoise and Gray. Every single one of these has been UNBELIEVABLE. These lenses are the perfect size, perfect thickness, and perfect material for my eyes. I wear the 8.5BC size, and typically either the blue or turquoise colors. I will try to post the different colors for you guys so you will have an idea of what they look like.

Solotica Natural Colors Quartzo

2011-10-31T07:07:00.000-07:00

Once again, just so you can see what the different colors have to offer, here are the NC Quartzo lenses. They are very pretty, a mix of green and gray. But they look a lot like the Cristal (Ice-Mint) Soloticas, and are much better in terms of the color change they offer. In my opinion they are too thin, and move around quite a it. This has not been other people's experience with them though, so my advice is to purchase them and try them for yourselves.

Material: 62% Polymacon, Hydration: 38%, Diameter: 14.2 mm, Base curve: 8.7,

Yearly lenses. Cost about $95.00. Imported from Brazil, and can be purchased at WRlens or Viallure (accepts Paypal).

Solotica Natural Colors Esmeralda

2011-10-31T07:02:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let you guys see what the other NC opaque colors look like. This one is the NC Esmeralda. As you know I have dark brown eyes, and have reviewed the Natural Colors line from Solotica in a previous entry about the Topazio color (which is by far my favorite out of all Natural Colors Soloticas).

Material: 62% Polymacon, Hydration: 38%, Diameter: 14.2 mm, Base curve: 8.7,

Price: $95.00

These are yearly lenses and can be purchased on Viallure's site as well as WR lens. Viallure now accepts Paypal which makes purchases easier and more secure. I would choose EMS shipping since Fedex can create problems with the purchase of foreign contact lenses.

Solotica Natural Colors Cristal (Ice-Mint)

2011-10-31T06:55:00.000-07:00

After a very long wait and highly expected launch, Solotica's new color lenses, Ice-Mint, are finally here. They are not as opaque as the Topazio, Quartzo, and Esmeralda NC lenses (at least in my opinion) and are not that pretty a color (they look like regular gray lenses). But I figured I would post about them here since so many people, including myself, have been waiting over a year for their release, and were curious as to what they would look like.

Comfort wise I have to say they seem comfortable, but again I have not worn them all day yet. They move around a little bit in my eyes (just like the other NC lenses) unlike their hidrosummer gloss and hidrocor counterparts.

Material: 62% Polymacon, Hydration: 38%, Diameter: 14.2 mm, Base curve: 8.7, Manufacturer: Solótica.

They can be purchased at Viallure and WRlenses online. You can also check out Youtube videos to see how they look on other people.

Solotica Hydrosummer Gloss - Azul

2011-10-31T06:38:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, sorry for the long absence. Long time no see. But I hope to resume my color contacts activity here.

I have recently purchased from Viallure (www.viallure.com.br) the new Solotica hidrosummer gloss contact lenses. These are a new line of color contacts, and I am hoping they are not seasonal because they are FABULOUS. They will turn the darkest of eyes into the lightest sky blue color seamlessly. As with all other Soloticas these are 14.2D and 8.7 BC. They are made of Polymacon 62% and 38% water content. They look like hand painted contact lenses that you would get for thousands in NYC. They are comparable to FX Eyes and 9mm lenses. They are thick, but seem comfortable although I did not wear them all day yet. One of the great things about them being thick is that they do not move around in my eyes like the NC lenses do. When lenses move around too much (as a result of being too thin) they cause some pretty awful burning feeling that may irritate the eyes.

These lenses come in 7 colors: Azul (blue), Amarelo (yellow), Branca (white), Ocre (which is an orange/brown color), Verde (green), Vermelho (red), and Violeta (violet). They are all very noticeable colors, and will completely cover your natural eye color. They cost around $110 and are yearly lenses. You can purchase them via the internet from Brazil at www.viallure.com.br or www.wrlens.com.br

HALLOWEEN LENSES

2009-10-27T11:23:00.000-07:00

Many people are asking about Halloween lenses, where to get them (especially without a prescription) and whether they are safe. The FDA issued a warning about these because contact lenses are medical devices and should not be sold without a prescription. However, to be completely honest there is nothing I have done (medically) less useful than a contact lens fitting. I went to a fitting thinking that I would be told my measurements and that once I had that I could request any brand of color lenses that fit those parameters. But the truth is, not only are your measurements not exact, meaning depending on the brand you could have a different prescription due to material and width, but each brand has a limited number of sizes, some only have one. So, you could do the fitting yourself, by buying all these different lens brands and seeing whether they fit you well. If your eyes get red and dry, it may be a sign your lenses are too tight and you need a greater B.C., and if the lenses are sliding too much, they may be too flat and you need a lower B.C., and the diameter should be able to cover your natural iris but not cover too much of your white part of the eye. Maybe you can ask your eye doctor to look at your eyes with the contact in under the microscope and check for air bubbles. Other than that, well, you are stuck with what is available and more likely than not you will be in the average size of 14.0-14.5 D. and 8.4-8.7 B.C.

Back to Halloween lenses, you should watch out for sclera lenses because they deprive your eyes of oxygen, so don't wear them for more than just a few hours. Those are the ones that cover your whole eye. Other Halloween lenses you can find in sites like http://hauntedeyes.com/, www.fxeyes.com, http://www.halloweencontactlens.org/ and many others.

WAICON LENSES FROM ARGENTINA

2009-10-27T11:04:00.000-07:00

I have to admit that I have never worn these. This picture is of a friend of mine wearing them, and his eyes are dark like mine. The Waicons are very popular but extremely hard to come by. They are made in Argentina, and are widely available there and in the middle east. Waicons are supposed to be the most natural color lenses in the world, with an ability to change even the darkest eyes into baby blues. Some people say that Waicons are the same lenses are the Magic Tops from Brazil (which I reviewed previously), and from the pictures I can say that the look is pretty much the same. Magic tops are available, as I mentioned before, through a website (that is also available in English) called Viallure. They cost around $140 per pair and last a year, and their measurements are 14.2 (D) and either 8.2, 8.5, or 8.8 (B.C.) with the standard size being the 8.5. But in terms of Waicon - Available Colors: Green, Gray, Hazel, Blue, Lilac... Parameters: BC 8.7 Dia 14.50. How to get them? You can either go to Argentina, or try your luck with a guy named Dan, who is from Argentina and brings them even with your prescription in them (but it will cost more). Online I found that his email is imnotdead22@hotmail.com and they cost around $175.00 with shipping. They last one year, and are supposed to be very comfortable. They are also able to correct astigmatism. There is a blog posting on this topic at http://www.aclens.com/contact_lens_forums/toast.asp?sub=show&action=posts&fid=1&tid=37984 and it can be very helpful for those who really want to try it. Another way of purchase I found was via an Australian site (positively reviewed) and here is the link http://www.oztion.com.au/buy/auctions.aspx?cat=0&keyword=waicon&type5=&i=30.

CUSTOM COLOR CONTACTS BY FXEYES

2009-10-27T10:51:00.001-07:00

In a world where most color contact lenses either not change your eye color too much, or not come in your specific prescription (especially for astigmatism), custom contact lenses are increasingly popular. There are several places you can get them, but not all of them will be able to provide you with your exact measurements and prescription needs. There is however, one place that can do that. It's called FXEyes, and they are a company called Crystal Reflections located in Arizona, USA, that provides both natural custom colors and theatrical lenses that are hand painted to your particular needs. The cost is high, running anywhere between $200 and $550 for the pair, but the pair lasts at least one year, and when you do the math it may be well worth it considering most other custom places, like Custom Contacts (http://www.customcontacts.com/home.html) charge well over $1000.00 for custom lenses. I tried FXeyes, but after having to exchange the lenses over 3 times and not getting my exact requirements I gave up on them. I also thought the lenses were too thick, but they do stay put as a result. It is something you can get used to. The materials and sizes will vary according to your needs, so they can customize everything, even pupil hole. The picture is shown above, and despite the nice color I think the lenses look like they are "jumping out" at you more so than any other brand, probably due to the thickness of it. The website for FXeyes is http://www.fxeyes.com/ and you may be able to save some money with the discount codes listed on the home page.

FRESHLOOKS GREEN

2009-10-22T14:05:00.000-07:00

Well, what can I say? I think the picture speaks for itself. These are daily disposable contacts, and are therefore cheap and safe for your eye, but as a result the look is also the same: cheap and safe, meaning, they do not cause any wow effect. If you wanted to look exotic, different, highlighted and turn heads, these ARE NOT the best contacts for you.

They are however very nice for one reason: they are available in prescription form to correct astigmatism. But, then again, the look is just not right, at least for me.

I don't know how a pair of contacts that have color on them can look so dark on the eye. I already have dark eyes, and with any color of freshlooks that I have tried, I pretty much feel that my eyes look even darker with them on. It's like trying to paint the color black with green marker...it looks just not right. In pictures they look ok, but in person, well, I don't think so.

Anyways, they are inexpensive and you discard them daily, you can get them anywhere in the US (online or at your doctor's office), and the measurements are B.C. 8.6, Diameter: 13.8. or 14.5. They cost about $26 for three pairs. (http://www.justlenses.com/lenses/lens-id254.asp).

They are coming out with new colors, so maybe you want to try the new ones. As for me, I don't think these are my kind of lenses.

BAUSCH & LOMB SOFTCOLORS NATURAL COLOR PLATINUM

2009-10-22T13:55:00.000-07:00

Bausch & Lomb is a well known brand of contact lenses, and one would think that all their products are available in the United States. However, such is not the case. This particular lens, which has indeed become a very popular google searched item and youtube video post, is NOT available in the United States as far as I know.

However, you can purchase it and have it delivered via a British, trustworthy website called Vision Direct UK (http://www.visiondirect.co.uk/product.php?xProd=49). They cost approximately $30 for the pair and last 3 months. They have a B.C. of 8.7 and a Diameter of 14.0. In my opinion, they move around a bit too much in the eye.

They are available in more colors (Aquamarine, Blue Topaz, Green Amazon, Emerald, Hazel India, Jade, Pacific Blue, Violet Indigo, and the Platinum as pictured here). My main problem with these, besides the fact that they move around and therefore are a bit uncomfortable, is that they look a bit fake up close. On pictures they look ok, but up close in person they look like cracks, and the limbal ring is quite defined, which I do not like too much. The pupil hole is not bad though, not too big, so they are better than most lenses out there in that sense.

SOLOTICA NATURAL COLORS TOPAZIO

2009-10-02T13:47:00.000-07:00

I really like Soloticas because of their comfort, so when I heard that they were making lenses that were brighter and more beautiful, providing more coverage than the Hidrocors, that were the same size and materials, I decided to try them.

Natural Colors by Solotica are usually not very good for dark eyes, because they are the least opaque. BUT, that is NOT the case for THREE of their colors: Topazio (topaz), Quartzo (quartz) and Esmeralda (emerald). These three colors are Solotica's most opaque contacts, but there is a twist: they are newer, which also means they are already being made in the new production line, meaning they are thinner than the hidrocor lenses. Same size, same material, but thinner. That results in lenses that move around a bit, and get dry and irritating after a few hours, and when you look up, the lenses let your natural eye color show.

It's a bummer. The thinner lenses are NOT as comfortable as the old ones. But one thing is for sure, supposedly that is healthier for your eyes, and they are still AMAZING lenses in terms of the color change they provide. They are also a thousand times more comfortable than any American brand of lenses...and this is my picture with the Topazio lens.

SOLOTICA HIDROCOR

2009-10-02T12:59:00.000-07:00

Soloticas hidrocor are VERY comfortable (at least for now, but they are changing and making their contact lenses thinner, which is not very cool) and blend with your natural eye color to give you a VERY natural look. Despite the size of the pupil hole (which is pretty big, showing a portion of your natural eye color), the contacts are so well made that the eye just looks like it was God made and not man made. They don't move around in your eye, and no one can tell they are contact lenses. But the colors are not as bright and beautiful as Magic Tops or Soloticas Natural Colors Topazio, Quartzo and Esmeralda (soon to be reviewed).

These lenses cost about $80.00 per pair, and can be bought at Viallure as well (that is true for all Brazilian brands, so don't think I am advertising them, because I am not, I just trust them, have bought from them MANY times, know that they have service in English and they take credit cards and not just Paypal). Their size is BC: 8.7, D: 14.2.

They come in many colors, such as Mel (honey), Ocre (ocre), Grafite (graphite), Green (verde), Blue (azul), Aqua (verde marine), and Ice (ice).

In my experience, the best colors are Ice, Marine, and Honey in that order. Since I have very dark eyes, I can only tell you how they look in dark eyes, and that is honey looks a yellow greenish color, marine looks blue, and ice looks like a really light blue/grey color.

For the most dramatic change you can get with this brand, you should by the ice lenses (above is my eye with the ice color lenses).

MAGIC TOP BY OPTICOLOR (BRAZIL)

2009-10-02T12:49:00.000-07:00

These are by far the most beautiful contact lenses I have ever seen. They look very natural (except if you are outside, and it is sunny, and your pupil decreased to the size of a small dot, and someone is literary in your face and can see the brown right around your shrunken pupil) and are able to turn even the darkest eyes into baby blues or aqua green or ice grey. Some people say that they are the same contact lens brand as the Waicons from Argentina, but I don't think that is the case. Magic Top lenses are Brazilian, made in Rio Grande do Sul by a company called Opticolor.

These lenses come in the following colors: Blue (Azul), Turquoise (Turqueza), Green (Verde), Grey (Cinza) and Lavander (Lavanda). They cost around $90.00 per pair, and can be purchased in Brazil or online at a site called Viallure (which ships to the US and has an English version available). The link is: http://www.viallure.com.br/index.aspx

They come in the following sizes: B.C. 8.2, 8.5 (standard), 8.8; D: 14.2

It is best to get the B.C. 8.5, because they are the best fit.

My eyes are a deep, dark, chocolate brown, and here is what my eyes look like with these contacts in the color blue (see picture above).

GIANT PAPILLARY CONJUNCTIVITIS (GPC)

2009-10-02T12:32:00.000-07:00

GPC is not a serious condition, but it is something that affects many contact lens wearers. It is annoying, difficult to treat, and can really be a bummer for contact lens lovers, especially the color contact lens lovers who never show their real eye color to anyone, because you have to discontinue the use of contacts if you really want to treat it.

GPC are little bumps inside your upper eyelids, which may or may not be visible to you, but will always be visible to your eye doctor under the microscope (they flip your eye lid and look at it). These bumps vary in degree, and can be mild to severe, but no matter the degree they are always irritating.

Symptoms: itchiness, especially when you remove the contact lenses, feeling of "sand" in your eyes, excessive mucous production, blurry vision, lenses that keep "riding up" in your eye. Not all symptoms need to be present but they can sometimes all be.

Causes: Hydrogel contacts appear to result in an overall prevalence of GPC of approximately 20%. Silicone hydrogel contacts may be more prone to GPC development, perhaps because of their mechanical stiffness or their higher propensity for deposition. Heat sterilization, poor cleaning, rough contact lens edges, and extended wearing times favor development of GPC. Increased frequency of contact lens replacement (especially daily disposables), rigorous cleaning (particularly with enzymes), peroxide disinfection, and decreased wear times appear to reduce the prevalence of GPC among users of hydrogel contacts.

Treatment: Discontinuing the contact lenses for a period varying from one week to several months, and using topical mast cell stabilizers and antihistamine combination solutions to treat the problem. Usually the lenses have to be replaced after you are allowed to wear them again because the ones from before will have too much protein deposit on them.

Important: One chemical that has been found to be related with GPC is a preservative in various contact lens solutions called thimerosal. You should read the labels of the contact lens solutions and make sure that that is not an ingredient or you may have allergic GPC as a result.

CONTACT LENS CARE

2009-10-02T12:17:00.000-07:00

HANDLING:

NEVER let tap water get to your contact lenses. Tap water can carry amoeba, which can get to your contacts and then give you serious eye problems, including blindness. You should ALWAYS wash your hands with soap or a hand sanitizer prior to handling your contact lenses, either to insert them or remove them. When drying your hand, choose a lint-free towel or use paper towels because if the lint gets to your contacts you will be miserable (it will feel like you have an eyelash on your cornea). Always keep the contact lenses in CLEAN cases with saline solution. You have to switch the solution daily or, if you don't wear your contacts everyday, switch them as you wear them but never leave the contacts emerged in saline that has been in the case longer than one week. Keep your cases clear and disinfected, but don't let them have any drop of tap water inside them. Make sure they are dry and tap water free before filling them with saline and placing your lenses in them.

CLEANING:

If you wear daily disposables, you can get away without cleaning them or just using a saline solution to clean them if necessary during the day, because at the end of the day you will just throw them out anyways. But if your lenses are not disposable, the very best way to clean them is with a chemical disinfectant, such as opti-free and clear care (the ones where you place the contacts in the disk and place the disk in the cup filled with the appropriate corresponding cleansing solution). Please remember that you should not rinse your contacts with that solution and place them in your eye because your eyes WILL BURN and may be damaged. You should rinse the contacts with a regular saline solution.

You should also try to use an enzymatic cleaner once a week (tablets) and a protein removed everyday if you can. It may seem a bit obsessive to be so clean, but once you wear contacts and like them you won't want to stop wearing them, so you don't want to have eye infections or allergies (such as GPC) and have to spend a long time giving your eyes a rest just because you did not remove the protein deposits from your lenses.

CONTACT LENS BASICS

2009-10-02T11:39:00.000-07:00

If you already wear corrective lenses you probably know all about the basics: diameter, base curve, material, etc. If you never wore lenses before, then you may not be aware that these are very important information to have before buying and wearing your contact lenses.

BASE CURVE (B.C.): The base curve is the radius of the sphere of the back of the contact lenses, and it is an important measurement to determine how the lenses fit on your cornea. Base curves vary from 8.0 to 10.0, and the lower the number, the tighter (or steeper) the lenses will be on your eye (it also follows that the higher the number the flatter the lenses will be on your eye). Typically commercial lenses come in a rage of 8.2 to 9.0, with the medium being 8.6. When the lenses fit too tightly on your eyes, they can cut out the oxygen to your cornea and cause serious eye problems. When they are too flat, they may move around too much and not only look terrible but be very uncomfortable and also damaging to your eyes.

When the lenses are too flat: 1) Usually uncomfortable, but seldom dangerous.
2) Lenses feel "dry", especially after several hours. 3) Rewetting drops are necessary several times a day. 4) Lenses may pop out or be difficult to insert. 5) Lenses ride high and outside, exposing the cornea. 6) Lens edge may lift or buckle.

When the lenses are too steep: 1) Sometimes comfortable, but can be dangerous.
2) Lenses insert easily and are very comfortable at first. 3) A red ring develops around your iris. DANGER! 4) Vision may vary with each blink.
Your eyes sting or burn after removal. 5) A fine "groove" in the soft tissue around the lens does not necessarily mean lenses are too tight. 6) Lenses which are difficult to remove are not necessarily too tight (it may be because of a more slippery material).

DIAMETER (D): The diameter is exactly that: it basically is the size of the contact lenses, the higher the number, the more of your eye the contact lens will cover. Some people have very small eyes, so they would look pretty weird with extremely large lenses (somewhat like a cartoon character) but if the lenses are too small, then your natural eye color will show around the lenses, and that may not look so cool.

MATERIAL: The lens fit is also determined by the material, thickness and edge technology. The material is readily available on the vile and description of the lenses online, but usually the only way to know the thickness is to wear them. When they are too thick they can be uncomfortable, but they also stay put a lot more (unless you get GPC, which I will address later on). When they are too thin, they move around more, can fall out when you blink, and are more likely to tear, so you have to be careful. Daily disposables tend to be thinner than yearly lenses, but that too is changing a bit because thinner lenses allow more oxygen to get to the cornea, so they are seen as healthier to the eye. The edge technology is really how the contact lens is cut, and that can be hard to find out and it is more important that they just fit well and are comfortable than to be tied up with how their edges are finished. The material varies, there are many kinds, and usually the higher the water contact the better the lenses are for the eye. The material is also important if you have an eye allergy to certain materials, which would require you to switch your contacts to the materials that you are comfortable with and your eyes can handle. Some materials include:

Asmofilcon A
Methafilcon A
Polymacon
Hilafilcon A
Hilafilcon B
Balafilcon A
Tetrafilcon A
Galyfilcon A
Senofilcon
Lotrafilcon B
Omafilcon A
Phemfilcon A
Vifilcon A

GETTING FITTED FOR CONTACTS

A contact lens fitting is performed by your eye doctor and usually is not covered by insurance. It can be pretty costly, but that will depend on too many factors, so I will not speculate the prices. During a contact lens fitting the eye doctor will take your eye measurements, and try on a pair of lenses that matches your measurements. It is important to note that most brands have their own specific sizes, and you cannot get a size different than what they have available. That means if you don't fit the sizes they have available, then you cannot wear that brand. That can be really annoying when it comes to color contacts, because each brand has an entirely different effect on the eye.

You probably will have to return several times to the doctor so that he/she can check your eyes with the time of wear of the contacts, see whether there are any bubbles or air pockets, any inflammation or irritation, and whether your vision is being negatively affected. This is true even if your lenses are PLANO (meaning, no corrective prescription) because the fit of the lenses itself are a prescription (B.C. and D).

Most of the time you need a valid doctor's prescription to buy contact lenses, even online, but that is not always the case. There are plenty of places where you can simply buy the contact lenses without ever visiting a doctor's office. The problem is, not only is that sale illegal, but you could damage your eyes. So it is important to at least check with a doctor to make sure whatever lens you bought is not harming your eyes by not being a proper fit.

INTRODUCTION TO COLOR CONTACTS

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Welcome to the informational source about the BEST color contacts available today. This is a place where you will find true information about the contacts that can transform your eyes. Many people are curious about color contact lenses, but are afraid to try them because they think they may look fake, obvious, and end up hurting your ocular health. That is why I, a veteran color contacts wearer, have decided to create this blog: I wish it had been around when I first found out how much I LOVED color contacts.

Now, this site will offer you names, reviews, and resources as to where to buy the contacts you see here, as well as pictures of truly dark brown eyes and what they look like with the different color contact brands. Many of you probably already know that the most dramatic effects and the very best lenses are actually not available in the United States, however, they CAN be purchased if you know the shortcuts and how to get through some of the red tape.

I do not profit from this site. I only want to help. I am not a contact lenses seller, only a customer and a critic, if I may title myself that. You should know that contact lenses are MEDICAL DEVICES, regulated by the FDA, and their sale is strictly prohibited in the US without a prescription because they can damage your eyes. I will not be held legally liable for any problems that individuals may encounter when experimenting with contact lenses, even if they obtained the information on this blog.

Thank you for visiting, and have fun looking around!