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.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
WAICON LENSES FROM ARGENTINA
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
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.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
FRESHLOOKS GREEN
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.
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
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.
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.
Friday, October 2, 2009
SOLOTICA NATURAL COLORS TOPAZIO
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.
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
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).
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).
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