Coloured Contact Lenses

What are coloured contact lenses?

Advice on choosing coloured contact lenses

Arguably the most important part of choosing coloured lenses is making sure you pick a pair that'll change your eye colour in the way that you hoped. The trick is to make sure whether the lenses you choose are designed to enhance your natural eye colour or change it significantly.

Once you know what kind of coloured contact lens you need, you should then figure out what shade is going to work well. If you're looking for a complete transformation then you needn't worry too much about which colour will suit your natural look, but if you're looking for something a little subtler then you might want to take this into account.

If your eyes are of a lighter shade and you're looking to add more depth without making a big change, consider your hair colour and skin tone before settling on a shade. Enhancement tinted lenses such as FreshLook Colorblends or SofLens Natural Colors add subtle overtones to your natural hue. If you have pale blue eyes, for example then you should try other blues, greys and even shades of green for a softer, more understated change. If you do want to make a bold statement, look out for opaque contact lenses in shades that contrast with your complexion. For example, you could try a deep brown tint with blonde hair and fair skin.

If you have darker eyes, you can soften their impact by using opaque tinted lenses in light shades of brown. If you want to change your eye colour considerably you should look at using FreshLook Colors, as they come in vibrant and exciting shades, perfect for achieving a striking appearance. Trying a contrasting colour such as violet or vibrant green with dark skin can often lead to a brilliant, eye-catching look.

Whether you're buying coloured contact lenses just for cosmetic purposes or with vision correction, you should visit your optician beforehand. This way they can help you to understand which coloured contact lenses will keep your eyes comfortable so you can pick the best brand for you.

There's no need to worry about the safety of coloured contact lenses if they're manufactured by a reputable brand. At Vision Direct we only stock products from established manufacturers such as Johnson & Johnson and Alcon/Ciba Vision. You should always follow any instructions or guidelines included by the manufacturer, whether you're a first-time wearer or have worn contact lenses for years.

If you're new to wearing contact lenses, then here's some useful advice:

1. Don't share your lenses: If you and some friends are all dressing up for an event, remember not to swap lenses to see how the different colours suit you. It could cause an eye infection and wearing the wrong prescription can cause discomfort and eye strain.
2. Take care of your lenses: If you are wearing daily lenses, always use a fresh pair. Once you get to the end of the day, throw away the ones you've been wearing before going to sleep and use a new set the next day/next time you want to wear them.
3. Stop wearing your lenses if your eyes become irritated: Sore, itchy or red eyes can often be harmless, but they can sometimes point to eye infections. If you experience any discomfort when wearing coloured contact lenses, take them off. Bring a spare pair of glasses with you just in case.
4. Experiment and enjoy different styles: Coloured contacts offer a fantastic opportunity to try new looks, just remember to get a contact lens fitting from your optician before diving in!

Types of coloured contact Lenses

There are a variety of different types of coloured contact lenses which have different effects on your eye colour.

Enhancement tinted lenses
These lenses are designed to boost your natural eye colour without transforming your natural shade. Coloured contacts with enhancement tints are ideal for people who have bright eyes who want to add intensity to their typical look. If you're looking for green or blue coloured contact lenses to match your eyes, then you should try enhancement tinted coloured contact lenses. You can also find them in lighter shades of brown and honey too.

Opaque tinted lenses
Opaque tinted coloured contact lenses have a strong and solid tint that can significantly alter the hue of your eyes. If your iris is a darker shade, like a deep brown, then you'll need to use opaque lenses to change the colour.

Usually costume or theatrical contact lenses are opaque tinted lenses so these are what you want for a haunting Halloween look.

Daily coloured contact lenses
FreshLook One Day are daily disposable coloured contact lenses that are ideal for enhancing your natural eye colour with a super convenient and hygienic daily wearing pattern. With FreshLook One Day, you don't need to clean or store your lenses in solution, just throw away your used lenses each night and replace them with a fresh pair the next time you need them.

They're a great option if you just want to wear coloured contacts occasionally as they are designed to be worn just for the days you need them.

Monthly coloured contact lenses
Monthly coloured contact lenses are handy if you wear your lenses regularly and offer good value for money. All you need to do to maintain your contacts is clean and store them in solution each night and they'll last for 30 consecutive days. After this, even if you haven't worn them every day, you should dispose of them. This means that these lenses are better suited if you're going to wear them on most days rather than just for a one-off event.