Solotica Natural Colors Cristal (Ice-Mint)

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.