Archive for June, 2009

The novelty of novelty contact lenses

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

It’s common knowledge that the reason why people wear contact lenses is because they provide a better alternative to wearing eyeglasses in terms of eye correction. Over the years, contact lenses have evolved from simple eye correction (like myopia and hyperopia) to treating astigmatism and even presbyopia. Now, there are even colored contact lenses for those who want to enhance or alter the color of their eyes.
From these changes, it’s inevitable that more purposes for contact lenses will be discovered. One good example is that now, they’re also available for aesthetic purposes and these lenses are aptly called novelty contact lenses. They’re called “novelty” because you do not intend to use them regularly, only for special occasions like Halloween, parties and costume events. They come in a variety of designs, unique and fresh, which make them so popular. These novelty contact lenses were mostly utilized by special effects teams in movies especially for horror, science fiction and fantasy characters. You’ll probably recognize them in zombies, vampires and werewolves. Novelty contact lenses complete the costume, the look for these characters making them more believable and more real, giving credence to the movie as much as the story.
If you’re interested in getting a pair for yourself, maybe as an accessory to your Halloween costume, you need a prescription from your eye doctor even if your eyes don’t need any correction. You need a proper fitting to make sure that these lenses are suitable to your eyes because they can come in varying dimensions. You also need to be instructed on the care and maintenance for these medical devices especially if this is the first time you’re using them.

You have to understand that even novelty contact lenses can cause eye irritation, bacterial infection and even worse, blindness, if the necessary precautions are not taken. Don’t risk the health of your eyes for a short term’s wear.

What are non-prescription color contact lenses?

Sunday, June 28th, 2009

Nowadays, almost everyone has heard of contact lenses and their role in giving back clear vision to people who need it. It’s another way of treating common eye conditions like myopia, hyperopia and even astigmatism and they come in a variety of brands, types and even added features. Regular contact lenses are usually clear and transparent although there are available colored contacts too. Regardeless if they’re clear or colored, since they’re primarily prescribed for people who need corrected vision, expect them to carry corrective powers.

If, on the other hand, you don’t need any eye correction but still would like the option of using colored contacts, there are what you call non-prescription color contact lenses. They’re essentially cosmetic contact lenses that are available in plano prescription (zero corrective powers). Though you call them “non-prescription” it generally means that you don’t have any necessity for eye correction but you still need a prescription from a professional eye doctor to be able to buy and use these contact lenses. Contact lenses, even the non-prescription ones, are not “one-size-fits all” types. That is why it’s necessary to go to an eye doctor for a professional fitting to see which pair suits you best.

Non-prescription colored contacts are especially popular because you can enhance or alter the color of your eyes as a fashion statement. Your main purpose for using contact lenses is for aesthetic and not corrective reasons. There are two types of colored contacts, opaque and enhancement. Opaque color contacts totally change the color of your eyes, whether you have light-colored or dark-colored eyes. Enhancement color contacts only highlight, not change, the color of your eyes. These are perfect for people who want only a subtle yet positive change in their appearance. Many contact lens manufacturers carry non-prescription colored contact lenses among their list of products and they even come in dailies or frequent replacement schedules.

Taking your Halloween costume to the next level

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

A lot of people look forward to Halloween. Kids and grown-ups alike can’t wait to put on their Halloween costumes, go trick-or-treating and having a marvelous time. Some even prepare their costumes months in advance just to be the life of the party. But guess what, despite the fabulous costumes and elaborate make-up the effect won’t be complete if your eyes don’t contribute their part to the whole attire.

There are a number of Halloween contact lenses that have become popular during this season. Halloween contact lenses can be described as cosmetic contact lenses that sport special designs reminiscent of horror movies, science fiction and fantasy tales. For example, if you’re going to a party dressed like Vampire Lestat or Vampire Louis from the movie “Interview with the Vampire”, wearing the same kind of eyes that they had in the movie will really complete your ensemble. If you want a pair of creepy Halloween contacts, you should try the black sclera which completely blacks out your eyes. It even has its counterpart, a white sclera that renders your eyes blind with whiteness because you can’t see from out of them. Zombies, ghouls, orcs, and vampires all are well-represented with their very own Halloween contact lenses available in retail stores and direct from manufacturers.

The key is to get them straight from reputable sellers and get your own prescription from your eye doctor. It is imperative that you learn the ins and outs of dealing with contact lenses even though they seem like toys. These are still medical devices that if improperly handled may lead to eye infection and worse, blindness.

When you’ve gotten your pair of Halloween contact lenses, make sure to maintain proper hygiene when handling it. Never share them with anyone. Never sleep in them too. These precautions are necessary if you are to enjoy your Halloween contacts for a long time.

The popularity of Glow-in-the-dark contact lenses

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

It’s a common fact that teenagers and the younger generation are most likely to be in the thick of things when it comes to fashion trends. They have no qualms about sporting the newest and most popular clothing, accessories and gadgets. It’s no surprise that when Glow-in-the-dark contact lenses came out, they were an instant hit.

Glow-in-the-dark contact lenses, as the name suggests, are costume contact lenses that are specially designed to glow in the dark. They are made from a special luminous ink painted on the surface of contact lenses. Because of the uniqueness of the contact lenses, they became very popular accessories especially in rave parties, Halloween events and any occasion where you want to stand out in the crowd.

However, despite its popularity, there are some who consider glow-in-the-dark contact lenses unsafe. In reality, the only thing that will make the lenses unsafe is improper use, fitting and over-all maintenance. For instance, you need to purchase your glow-in-the-dark contact lenses from reputable stores and retailers. The first thing you need is a prescription for your lenses and if the retail shop does not ask you for it, then you should beware. The next best thing to do is not to share your lenses with anyone. It’s understandable that you want your friends to also experience wearing the lenses but it’s most sanitary if you do not share them. You minimize the risk of bacterial infection if you maintain the proper hygiene with your glow-in-the-dark lenses, like you would with regular lenses. One other important thing to remember is to never sleep in your glow-in-the-dark lenses. At the most, you can wear them for up to 8 hours but more than that will subject your eyes to unnecessary strain.

Treat your glow-in-the-dark contact lenses with the proper respect and your eyes will remain healthy for a longer period of time.

Designer contact lenses for a more unique you

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

People who normally want to express a bold statement usually experiment with their hair – maybe try a striking new hairstyle that’s never seen before. Others would probably express themselves through their clothing and introduce a new fashion trend. If you’re not as flamboyant as them, you may probably want to start with something simple, like altering the color and appearance of your eyes with designer contact lenses.

If eyeglasses have designer frames that were specially made by fashion icons, contact lenses also have them but are more descriptive of the funky, scary and creative designs that are embellished on the contact lenses themselves. These designer contact lenses are custom made, some are even hand-painted and still some are only available by special request. Most designer contact lenses get their inspiration from movies that often times use these contact lenses to support their special effects especially for science fiction, fantasy and horror genres.

Designer contact lenses are now more readily available especially since contact lens manufacturers have also started to make them, like Crazy Lenses from CooperVision and Wild Eyes by Ciba Vision. One important thing to remember is that even though they are clearly contact lenses made for aesthetic purposes, you still need to get a prescription from a professional eye doctor before you can actually wear one, whether you need eye correction or not. The reason behind this is because contact lenses are still medical devices and you need to know the proper use, cleaning routine and replacement schedules for them. Knowing and being informed lessens the chances of doing your eyes damage.

If you want a pair of these designer contact lenses the first thing you need to do is get a contact lens prescription from your eye doctor. Then search for a reputable seller and place your order in advance because though some of the designs may be in stock, should you want a custom-made pair, you need to give them some lead time to do their work. Pay and wait until your order arrives and then you’re on the road to a style uniquely your own.