5 Things to Know About Color Contact Lenses

5 Things to Know About Color Contact Lenses

Are you the type of person that likes to play around with your
looks? On the other hand, maybe you have always wanted green
eyes instead of blue. If either of these descriptions sounds
like you, you might be interested in colored contact lenses.
Maybe you have even thought about using them before but didn't
know if they were safe, or how expensive they might be. If so,
keep reading the following tips will help you decide.


1- Color contact lenses come in a variety of colors and shades.
They are available in blue, green, brown, violet, hazel and grey
with new colors emerging all the time. These are great for
someone who is tired of how they look and want a temporary
change. Color contact lenses are available in three basic tints,
the visibility tint, enhancement tint and the color tints. Each
of these types of contacts serves a specific purpose for contact
lens wearers.


2- The visibility tint is a lens with a light green or light
blue tint that has been added for ease of contact use, this is
also very helpful if one is dropped, but does not affect eye
color at all. The enhancement tint lenses feature a solid and
translucent tint of color that does affect eye color, but only
slightly. These color contact lenses are not meant to change the
eye color, but rather to enhance it, to make it more intense.


3- Color tints however, are the contacts that are used to change
eye color; these are what most people think of when color
contacts come to mind. The color tint lenses have a deeper color
added to the lens that allows the natural color of the eye to be
completely hidden. These are the types of lenses that are
available to transform the eye into something that is truly
unusual.


4- If you are a regular contact wearer, you will need a
prescription for colored contacts as well, but other than the
fact that they are color contact lenses, all the normal rules of
contact use and care apply. However, these contacts are
available from the same sources you are currently purchasing
your regular contacts from.


5- The most important tip, do not, under any circumstances share
your contacts with anyone. This is mentioned because most people
that use color contact lenses don't intend for them to be
permanent and the desire to try them might over rule common
sense. This is said strictly for your safety.


About the author:


John Mancini has been writing about Contact Lenses online and
offline for a long time. Visit
http://contact-lenses-central.info or
http://ez-contact-lenses.net to read more about matters like
contact lens online and cheap contact lenses.
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Did you ever wish that you had a different eye color? Or maybe you just want to do something a bit crazy and have different color eyes for each party? Color contacts can do wonders for your appearance, but only if you select the right type and color. Learn how to get the best out of your color lenses, what your options are and what to consider when selecting color contacts.

Do color lenses really change your eye color and look natural?

This is a question that worries most people who want to try color contacts for the first time. After all, you want people to think �what gorgeous eyes she has� not �what nice contact lenses she wears�.

Color lens manufacturers are aware of the issue and try to make color contacts look vivid, yet natural. There is a lot of sophisticated technology involved in the brand name color contacts like Acuvue 2 Colors or Freshlook. The lens isn�t just solid color, it has a pattern similar to the pattern of a human eye. Also the color isn�t consistent throughout the lens, just like in most people eyes. See color contact lens comparison

Color lens choices for light eyes

Depending on the effect you want to create, people with light eyes can wear enhancement or opaque color contacts.
If you just want to enhance your natural color, half transparent, enhancement lenses would be great for you. The best choices are:

Acuvue 2 Colors Enhancers - to brighten your eyes.

Freshlook Radiance - lenses with an illuminating effect that enhances your color and makes your eyes appear sparkly.

Freshlook Dimensions - unique lens design makes your eyes appear not only brighter but also creates the impression of depth and dimension.

If you feel adventurous and want a dramatic change, go for opaque lenses:

Acuvue 2 Colors opaques

Freshlook Colorblends

If it is your first time with color contact lenses and you aren�t sure what effect you want, start with enhancement lenses. This way your friends will notice that you look more appealing, but they probably won�t notice what it is about you that attracts their attention.

Color contact lenses for dark eyes

If you have very dark eyes and tried color contact lenses a few years ago, you probably were not very impressed with the effect. Contacts of the previous generation didn�t look quite right. However, recently developed color lenses like Freshlook Colorblends can do wonders for dark eyes.

One thing to remember, however, is that enhancers don�t work on brown eyes, so your only choice is opaque contact lenses. Acuvue 2 Colors opaques and Freshlook Colorblends work best for dark eyes.

Also you should be careful, when selecting the color. It should be a color that would look right with your skin and hair. See color contact lens chart with suggestions and photos.

If you just want to make your eyes seem brighter and more vivid, without changing their color, go for brown or hazel color lenses. This way your eyes won�t look a different color, but people will notice that they are bright and lively.

Opaque color contacts work very well. The only thing they can�t do for you is to make your eyes light. Blue, green and aqua opaque contacts create a deep, vivid color, which suits people who have naturally brown eyes.

Do color contacts come with corrective powers?

Acuvue 2 Colors and all Freshlook collections come with visual correction powers as well as in plano (no correction). Additionally, Freshlook Colorblends is the only color lens that comes in toric, so it is suitable for people with astigmatism.

So which is better: Acuvue 2 Colors or Freshlook?

There is no single answer to this question. Both brands of lens are very comfortable to wear and create a great look. The only difference is in the colors. On the same person, blue from Acuvue would look very different from Freshlook blue. It really depends on your eyes and face, and it�s almost impossible to predict the result until you wear your color contacts.

Don�t pay to much attention to how the lens looks in the picture, because on you it will probably look different. This happens mostly with enhancer lenses - blue enhancers over blue eyes look very different from enhancers over gray eyes. Opaque color contact lenses also can look very different on different people; this is not due to your natural eye color, but because of eye shape, skin and hair types.

When you narrow your choice to one color, I would recommend asking your doctor for two prescriptions: one for Acuvue 2 Colors and another for Freshlook. Then order both. They cost pretty much the same, so you would spend no more than if you were to order 2 boxes of each.

Then, after wearing your new color contacts for a while, you can decide for yourself, which looks better.

Also, doctors usually give you free trial color contacts. You can�t really wear them in public because trial lenses have the word �test� imprinted on them, but it gives you a fair idea about the color. Ask for two free pairs, one from Freshlook and one from Acuvue, and see which looks best.

As far as the price is concerned, Freshlook and Acuvue 2 Colors cost about the same for a 6-lens box. However, all Freshlook lenses are monthly disposable, while Acuvue 2 Colors is a 2-week disposable contacts lens. So it turns out that Freshlook is twice cheaper. And you can get them both with a great discount - see how to get cheap color contact lenses

If you were thinking of giving yourself a little treat, getting color contacts would not disappoint you. And now when you know what would work best for you, you can make your choice with confidence.

Happy changing!

About the Author

Tanya Turner is a contact lens expert and a founder of Contact Lens Consumer Guide, where you can find unbiased information about eye health and all types of contact lenses with reviews and pictures

Contacts Provide Diverse and Plentiful Choices

Contacts Provide Diverse and Plentiful Choices

Whether you�re wearing contact lenses for the first time or you�re a current wearer seeking a new option, the choices have never been so diverse and plentiful.



The technology and designs available will make you�re contact lenses wearing experience a comfortable and convenient one. Some of the wonderful contact lens types include; disposable contact lenses, colored contact lenses, rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, toric and bifocal lenses and extended wear lenses.



The first step for anyone wanting to wear contact lenses is a visit to an eyecare practitioner, even if you just want to change eye color. Ophthalmologists, optometrists and in some states opticians are considered to be eyecare practitioners and can write a valid contact lenses prescription. In the United States contact lenses can only be legally purchased with a written contact lens prescription.



You�re eyecare practitioner will first check to see if you can safely wear contact lens, most people can, there are however some who cannot. Next you�re eyecare practitioner will do a thorough examination of both eyes and a contact lens fitting to determine you�re contact lens prescription. It is important to remember that contact lenses are medical devices and if not properly prescribed and fitted a person could suffer discomfort, abrasion, swelling and in some rare instances permanent eye damage. Regular eye exams are necessary to ensure any problems are looked at and taken care of.



Benefits of Wearing Contacts:

There are many benefits to wearing contact lenses. Contact lenses are so delicately designed that the wearer doesn�t even know they are there. Contact lenses eliminate the barriers that eyeglasses provide with the line of sight from above, below and the sides of the eyes, allowing for incredible peripheral vision while reducing and often eliminating image distortion often caused by eyeglasses.



Disposable Contacts:

Disposable contacts are the most common type of discount contact lenses. They offer both health and convenience benefits, and are a favorite among eyecare practitioners and consumers alike, because of the wonderful health benefits and convenience they offer. Disposable lenses designs should be worn for a certain amount of time, thrown out and replaced with a fresh pair of lenses. There are three main types of disposable contact lenses; disposable contact lenses which can be discarded and replaced every two weeks or sooner (some are daily); the traditional or reusable contact lenses that are replaced approximately every six months or longer and the frequent replacement contacts which are replaced monthly or quarterly. There can be confusion between what is known as the replacement schedule and the wearing schedule. The replacement schedule is the difference between disposable, traditional or reusable and frequent lenses, and exactly how often they are discarded and replaced. Whereas the wearing schedule refers to how often you�re contact lenses are removed but not necessarily discarded. Usually the name of the contacts such as daily wear or extended wear will refer to how often the lenses should be removed.



Color Contact Lenses:

Color contact lenses are a great way to either give yourself a subtle or dramatic change to your look. The color contact lenses are available in both prescription and plano (non prescription) form. There are four types of colored contact lenses; visibility tints, enhancement tints, opaque color tints and light-filtering tints. The visibility tints usually come with a green or light blue tint added to the lens, and this is primarily so you can see well during insertion and removal or if the contact lenses are dropped. The visibility tints do not affect eye color. Enhancement tints are a solid (yet translucent) tint that also does not affect eye color. What they do as the name implies is enhance the existing eye color of the wearer.



Color tints are the deeper, opaque tints that dramatically change the wearers eye color. These lenses are great for anyone wanting a dramatic change in their eye color and appearance. The color contacts are available in a wide variety of colors, including green, hazel, violet, blue, amethyst and gray. Lastly the light-filtering tints are a great option for sports enthusiasts. These special contact lenses are designed for specific sports use as they enhance certain colors. One color of the light-filtering tints is the optic yellow, because this is the color of tennis balls and some golf and softballs the lenses enhance the yellow while muting other colors, making the ball stand out against the background.



Rigid Gas Permeable Lenses:

Rigid gas permeable lenses (RGP) are probably the highest quality lenses available today. They offer excellent quality of vision (some will say crisper vision), durability, and retain their shape better when blinking. The lenses allow for oxygen to reach your eye therefore creating more comfort and better eye health. The lenses have a more lengthy adjustment period than the soft lenses and must be worn everyday to maintain the comfort level, otherwise if not worn everyday it will take time to adjust to again.



Bifocal and Toric Lenses:

A comfortable and convenient way to correct presbyopia (aging eyes) is with bifocal contact lenses. These contact lenses can replace the bifocal eyeglasses that we are used to seeing on people. The bifocal contacts are available in both soft and rigid gas permeable lenses, and in disposable or frequent replacement wear. Toric contact lenses treat the eye condition known as astigmatism (irregularly shaped cornea). The toric contact lenses have only become available recently in soft contact options. The lenses are available in disposable, frequent replacement, multifocal and color varieties of lenses.



Extended Wear Lenses:

Extended wear contact lenses are the most convenient of all the contact lenses. Extended wear allows for overnight wear up to thirty days. Most of the extended wear contact lenses available can be worn without removal for up to seven days, there are only a couple of brands that can be worn for up to thirty days of continuous wear. There is a higher health risk compared with the nightly removal lenses. The nice thing about the extended wear lenses is you don�t have to worry about lens care, you must be sure however to discard and replace your lenses according to their wear schedule to avoid any risk of infection. A nice option in the extended wear lenses is the flexible wear lenses. This allows you to nap or occasionally sleep in your lenses, perhaps on a weekend trip, while only wearing the lenses on a daily wear basis.



Conclusion

Everyone�s individual needs and preferences will come into play when selecting their contact lenses. With the wonderful assortment of contact lenses available there is a lens that will offer both comfort and convenience to the most particular of consumers.
Valerie Giles owns and operates Eyewear-4U http://www.eyewear-4u.com, an eyewear site featuring fashion eyewear, sports eyewear, prescription eyewear, discount sunglasses and contact lenses as well as accessories. The accompanying article is copyrighted. It may be reproduced only if the hyperlinks here are left intact.
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Thinking of getting blue color contacts? From the hundreds of blue lenses currently on the market, some can make your eyes really stunning while others are a profound disappointment. Discover how to find the blues that would work best for your...
Source: www.color-contacts.thecatcollar.com

What You Need to Know About Soft Contact Lenses

What You Need to Know About Soft Contact Lenses

Soft contact lenses are unquestionably the most commonly prescribed contact lens available. Made of soft, flexible plastic, it is estimated that about 87% of contact lens wearers in the U.S. wear soft lenses.

Brief History

In 1971, Bausch & Lomb introduced the first commercially available soft contact lens. For years, this conventional soft daily wear lens was the only type of soft contact lens available. This lens ideally was meant to last between 6 and 12 months and required daily cleaning and weekly enzymatic treatment.

In 1981 the FDA approved the first contact lenses approved for extended or overnight wear.

It wasn�t until 1991 that the first frequent-replacement contact lenses were sold. Frequent-replacement contacts are typically replaced every 1 to 3 months. The next year, 1992, disposable contacts (disposed every 2 weeks or less) were introduced.

In less than a decade, frequent-replacement and disposable lenses became the lenses of choice for the vast majority of eye care providers. Today approximately 75% of soft contact lens patients are wearing some sort of frequent-replacement or disposable lens. Frequent-replacement and disposable contacts are available as both daily and extended wear.

Soft Contact Lens Options

As implied, daily wear contacts are removed and cleaned daily, while extended wear lenses can typically be worn continuously for up to 7 days (or more as CibaVision�s Focus� Night & Day� contacts have been approved for up to 30 days continuous wear).

Disposable contacts are, as the name implies, disposed on a regular period, while the non-disposable contacts are cleaned and disinfected before reinserting the contacts.

Patients who choose extended wear should be aware of the added risk of eye infections and complications that come with sleeping in contacts. I typically discourage extended wear, but will fit contacts as extended wear only after the patient understands the added risk and agrees to be seen for more frequent follow-ups. I also will use a silicone hydrogel lens material for these patients.

Types of Soft Contact Lenses Available

Soft contact lenses are available for a variety of visual corrections.

For patients with significant astigmatism, I will often use a soft toric contact lens. Toric contacts have improved greatly over the last few years. Indeed, many patients who have never been able to wear contacts due to their astigmatic prescription are now able to successfully wear contact lenses.

Soft bifocal contacts are a relatively recent option for patients requiring a reading prescription or bifocal. Along these same lines, monovision continues to be a good option for these same patients. Monovision correction does not use a bifocal contact, but rather uses one contact for the distance vision (usually the dominant eye) and one contact for the near vision.

Soft contact lenses come as either clear or with a visibility (handling) tint. The visibility generally has no effect on eye color, but is there to help you see the lens while you�re handling it. These lenses are not the same as cosmetic soft contacts.

Cosmetic soft contacts have been popular sellers since their introduction. Now patients with or without a prescription can change the color of their eyes with colored or tinted contacts.

CibaVision�s Wild Eyes� contact lenses and CooperVision�s Crazy Lenses are novelty lenses that are fun to fit around Halloween.

Concluding Thoughts

Part of the reason for the success of soft contact lenses is the comfort these lenses offer over rigid gas permeable (RGP) contacts. As a result, they have a much shorter adaptation period. However, in some cases with soft contacts, vision may not be as sharp as with RGP contacts.

When prescribing a soft contact, my first lens of choice is CibaVision�s O2Optix�. This lens can be worn for up to one week extended wear or two weeks daily wear. For patients who may not want a disposable lens (this is very rare), I will recommend CibaVision�s Cibasoft� Visitint� standard daily wear.

For patients who experience drying with their contacts, I will often recommend contacts with newer, moisture-retaining materials. Such contact lenses include Proclear� Compatibles by CooperVision and Acuvue� Advance� with Hydraclear by Vistakon (Johnson & Johnson). Indeed, Vistakon has recently launched the Acuvue� Oasys� with Hydraclear, which is primarily targeted for patients who experience contact lens dryness.

Regardless of your own situation, chances are good that you will end up wearing a soft lens if you decide to try contacts Be sure to discuss with your eye care provider all the options you may have, given your prescription, age, needs, and expectations.

About The Author

Dr. Dan Irwin is a practicing optometrist in southeastern Michigan with over 16 years experience fitting contact lenses. For more insightful information on contact lens related topics such as discount contact lenses and buying contact lenses online, please go to http://www.Contact-Lens-Online-Guide.com.
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A pair of special effect contacts is a must for any decent Halloween costume. But there are so many on offer - which lenses are truly spectacular and which are a waste of money? Find out what costume contact lenses are available and how to select the brand that is best for you.

There are two major types of Halloween special effect contact lenses - round (traditional shape for contact lenses that only cover the colored area of your eye) and scleral costume lenses (covers the entire visible portion of your eye, leaving no white visible). There are also semi-scleral lenses - they are larger than the ordinary ones, but some white is still visible at the corners of your eyes.

If you are not very experienced with color contact lenses, it is best to go with ordinary (round) lenses. Scleral Halloween contacts create a great effect, but they are more difficult to insert and remove, and sometimes not very comfortable to wear. Also, scleral lenses are very expensive - usually upwards from $200 per lens. Semi-scleral lenses, on the other hand, can be a good compromise, because they are reasonably easy to put in and take out and they don't cost that much.

All special effect lenses are completely opaque. Unlike some color contact lenses, costume lenses are equally suitable for light eyes and dark eyes - they completely mask your natural color anyway. The center of the lens is usually clear, so you can see. If you need vision correction, you should be pleased to know that some Halloween special effect contact lenses, like Wild Eyes and Crazy Lenses, come with corrective powers. If your vision is perfect, you can just get plano (zero powers) lenses.

What Halloween special effect lenses are on offer?

The variety of special effects lenses designs is amazing. You can find anything you want, from classic hot red or cat eyes to frost, Dune or Alien designs. The most popular and exciting looking lenses are Banshee, Cat Eyes (which you can get in yellow, red or white) Vader, Wolf Eyes, Black-outs and White-outs. You can also get lenses with the logo of your favorite sports team or symbolic prints like smiley face or stars and stripes.

See designs of Halloween contact lenses

And if you have your own design in mind you can order custom-made contact lenses. There are many companies online that employ contact lens artists to create individually painted lenses. Of course, this type would cost a lot and you will have to place your order in advance.

Halloween contacts collections and manufacturers

Two collections dominate the special effect Halloween contacts market - Crazy Lenses, produced by Cooper Vision, and Wild Eyes, produced by Ciba Vision.

Crazy Lenses offers white-out lenses, black, red and white spiral, wolf eyes, fire and bloodshot. Crazy Lenses come as monthly disposable contacts as well as traditional (annual replacement lenses). Actually, if you won't wear your Crazy Lenses every day and care for them properly, annual lenses can last up to 18 months. If you are looking for the cheapest option for this Halloween - monthly disposable Crazy Lenses is usually the cheapest high quality contact lens you can get. Crazy Lenses are available with or without prescription.

Wild Eyes are annual replacement special effect lenses. You can get Cat Eye, Hypnotica, Black-out and White-out, Icefire, Zoomin, Zebra, Jaguar and Wildfire. Wild Eyes colors are bright and vivid and the lenses are very comfortable. You can get Wild Eyes with or without corrective powers.

9mmSFX lenses - the company that created special effect lenses for movies such as Hellraiser, Blair Witch Project 2, The Adventures of Pluto Nash and many other famous movies. They offer hundreds of designs, all of their lenses are hand-painted, and they create unbelievable effects. The only draw-back is that 9mmSFX lenses are not mass produced - so they cost a lot.

Compare Halloween costume contacts by different brands and have great scary fun!
About the Author

Tanya Turner is a colored contact lens expert and a publisher of Contact Lenses Consumer Guide which provides you with consumer information about color contact lenses Contact lenses for Halloween, and costume contact lenses reviews and photos

Contact Lenses A Better Vision Option

Contact Lenses A Better Vision Option

There are over 34 million contact wearers in America. The idea of contact lenses has been around for hundreds of years. It is said that the first person to conceptualize the idea of contact lenses was Leonardo da Vinci in the early 1500's. It wasn't until 1971 that soft contact lenses entered the market, followed by GP or gas permeable contact lenses in 1978. Extended wear contacts received FDA approval in 1981 and disposable contacts were introduced in 1987.

Today's contact lenses do more than improve vision. Some contacts are specifically manufactured to change eye color only. With dozens of different colors available some contact lens wearers change their eye color slightly, and some go for a totally different look, such as brown eye to green or blue eye to brown. There are contacts that have special effect lenses that produce effects on the eye such as jaguar and zebra stripes, a yellow cat eye with a vertical pupil, black spiral, stars & stripes and fire. The FDA considers lenses described above as cosmetic only. Depending on your state you may not need a prescription to purchase them. If your contact lenses are to be corrective then you will require a prescription to purchase them.

Another recent advancement in contact lenses is light filtering lenses. These lenses work as do lens specific sport sunglasses by filtering certain lights such as blue light, so that baseballs, golf balls and tennis balls are easier to see. There are also contact lenses that block ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet light has been linked to cataract formation.

There are many types of contact lenses available, hard contacts, gas permeable lenses and soft lenses. We will now give you some advantages, and disadvantages of each kind. Hard contact lenses are less costly in the long run as they aren't replaced often, and actually allow the wearer better, clearer sight. Soft contact lenses are easier to fit than hard lenses. Gas permeable or GP lenses allow you eyes to breath better and will not dry your eye out as much as soft lenses. Soft lenses are comfortable from the moment you put them on whereas hard lenses at first are very uncomfortable and take some getting used to.

There are safety concerns with any type of contact lenses. Extended wear contact lenses, soft or rigid, when worn long term and overnight can lead to risk of infection and corneal ulcers which can permanently damage eyesight. Most ophthalmologists believe it is better for your eye that you do not wear any type of contact lens overnight. Cleanliness if also of utmost importance for lens wearers. To reduce the risk of infection you should only use commercial sterile saline solutions when cleaning your contact lenses.

It is best to check with your licensed ophthalmologist to discuss which contact lens is best for you.

About the Author

Article courtesy of http://www.lense-shopper.net

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Color contact lenses can really brighten your look and your life, but selecting the perfect pair is not as easy as it sounds. We will tell you everything you need to know about color contacts.

1. Are your eyes light or dark?

When deciding what color contact to buy, take into account the natural color of your eyes. If your eyes are light and you want to brighten their natural color, go for enhancement color contacts. Enhancers look more natural on light eyes. However, if your eyes are dark or you want a dramatic change, look at opaque color contacts.

2. What kind of change do you want - a dramatic effect or a slight change?

Some color contact lenses are brighter than the others. The brightest hues, like Freshlook Colorblends True Sapphire, are best for parties, when you are also going to have evening make up. For work, on the other hand, you might prefer lenses that aren't so vivid. These rules are not set in stone, of course, just make sure to consider how bright a lens you want before making your purchase.

See pictures of colored contacts by most popular brands

3. Think about comfort as well as the look

Go for well-known brands of contact lenses, so your lenses feel as good as they look. You can get disposable (weekly and monthly) as well as traditional (annual replacement) color contacts. Which is best for you depends on how often and for how long you intend to wear your color lenses. If you are going to wear them every day and all day long, it is better to buy disposable lenses, like Acuvue 2 Colors or Freshlook. Replacing the lenses often won't let protein deposits to build up on them and the lenses will feel more comfortable.

On the other hand, if you only want to have those perfect blue or green eyes occasionally, annual replacement color lenses would serve your purpose.

4. You need a prescription to buy color contacts

All contact lenses, including color ones, are considered medical devices. So, whether or not you need vision correction, you will need a doctor's prescription to buy color lenses. Color contacts are not "one size fits all", and even if you have perfect vision your eye doctor has to measure the base curve of your eye.

Most famous brands of color contacts are available in plano (no correction power) as well as with plus and minus powers. But if you have an astigmatism your choices are very limited; so far only Freshlook offers toric color contacts.

5. You can get free trial color contacts from your doctor

Most doctors can offer you a trial pair of color contact lenses. Of course, he or she won't let you try many lenses, so you should have some idea about brand and the color you want before you ask your doctor for a free trial pair. Many people are searching for free trial color contacts online. However, since color lenses are medical devices, the only place you can get them is an optometrist's office.

6. Compare the prices at several shops

You probably already know that the best way to save on color contact lenses is to buy them online. However, online prices differ from shop to shop. After you have selected the exact lens you want and visited your eye doctor for a prescription, check the prices for your lenses in several shops. You should also take the shipping charges into account.

7. Be prepared to care for your color lenses properly

If you already wear corrective contact lenses, you probably have guessed that color contacts would require similar care. If you want to buy non prescription color lenses purely for cosmetic purposes, you will still have to look after them properly. Don't be scared, this is not hard and take only a few minutes. When giving you a prescription, your doctor should show you how to put the lenses in, take them off, clean and store your contacts. If he or she doesn't, make sure to ask. Then all you need to do, is not to forget to clean your color contacts every time you take them off.

About the author:

Tanya Turner invites you to Contact Lenses Consume Guide to see reviews and consumer information about colored contact lenses . There you can also find pictures and advice about best color contacts and comparison of online contact lens retailers.

What Does It Take To Get A Multifocal Contact Lens?

What Does It Take To Get A Multifocal Contact Lens?

What Does It Take To Get A Multifocal Contact Lens?

Honestly, what does it take to get into a pair of multifocal contact lenses? I know they�re used for correcting the effects of astigmatism and presbyopia. I happen to know a bit about multifocal vision correction in general--and I should. After all, my father is named Benjamin Franklin (no, really) and Benjamin Franklin invented bifocals. But my experience with multifocal contact lenses has been rather limited, despite my best efforts. Even direct questions to my optometrist failed to produce any results.

My Life in Technicolor Glasses

I have a long personal history of vision correction. I got my first pair of glasses when I was eight years old. It was a fate I couldn�t avoid, with both my parents contributing poor eyesight genes. After being fitted with my mildly corrective lenses and pink speckled frames, my own eyesight continued to grow worse over time. I developed a habit of squinting even when I had just received a stronger prescription. One optometrist even recommended bifocal glasses to slow the deterioration of my eyesight.

The next optometrist reversed this prescription. Later, he detected astigmatism in my right eye. Although a multifocal contact lens could correct this disorder, my parents decided I was too young for contact lenses. I was ten at the time, so they were probably right. My glasses with green and gold frames would have to suffice for the time being.

When, at 13, the time finally came to give up my glasses for the freedom of contacts, my new doctor didn�t mention my astigmatism. Even when I brought it up, he didn�t really address the issue. Although I had thought that I wouldn�t be able to wear contacts because of this disorder, after two hours of struggling against my surprisingly strong blink reflex I walked out of the office without glasses--and without a multifocal contact lens to correct my astigmatism. To this day, astigmatism blurs the focus of my right eye. My doctor has yet to prescribe a multifocal contact lens to correct this. Now, in my twenties, my prescription seems to have hit a plateau. With 20/400 vision, I could be considered legally blind if it weren�t for my contact lenses, but I�m still waiting on 100% perfect correction of my astigmatism.

Multifocal Contact Lenses Coming up All Over--Almost


My father, the esteemed Mr. Franklin, is now in multifocal lenses. After wearing glasses to correct nearsightedness from the time he was in the first grade, Dad found his eyesight suddenly �improving� with age. As he tried to read materials at a normal distance, he would have to remove his glasses to focus better. Between his presbyopia and myopia, Dad needed a multifocal contact lens. Now he benefits from the invention of his illustrious namesake--a lot more than I ever did.

Ryan, my husband, has been consigned a fate similar to mine. He also has astigmatism. His past optometrists have insisted that hard contact lenses are the best solution for his vision problems, but at his most recent visit, he received a prescription for a soft multifocal contact lens to correct his astigmatism. After all that I�ve done to try to get into a multifocal contact lens prescription, I thought Ryan would be overjoyed to leave behind his hard contacts for the advantages of a soft multifocal contact lens.

However, Ryan wore his new soft contacts for a grand total of three days before relegating them to long-term storage in their plastic case. He explained that it had taken time for his eyes to grow accustomed to the hard contacts in the first place, and he�d hate to have to start all over again. Although he said he�d probably use them from time to time, the forgotten multifocal contacts taunt me from their plastic case.

And still I�m waiting for a contact lens to correct my astigmatism. I know they�re out there, but somehow they always seem to be just out of my reach.

About the Author

Jordan enjoys reading, ice skating and watching Law & Order. For more information on contact lens and multifocal contact lens, visit www.discountcontacts.info.
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Is it safe to buy color contacts online? If you compare color contact lens prices at the doctor's office and at online contact lens shops, you will see that online you can get your lenses 50 to 70 percent cheaper. But you may ask, why such...
Source: www.color-contacts.thecatcollar.com

Creative Sensor to produce liquid lenses by year-end 2006 - DigiTimes

DigiTimes

Creative Sensor to produce liquid lenses by year-end 2006 DigiTimes, Taiwan - Aug 17, 2006 Creative Sensor Incorporated (CSI), a Taiwan-based maker of color contact image-sensor modules ... are also engaging in the development of liquid-lens modules, Hsu ...

Source: news.google.com

Halloween Special Effect Contacts - How to Select the Most Knoskout Lenses

Halloween Special Effect Contacts - How to Select the Most Knoskout Lenses

A pair of special effect contacts is a must for any decent Halloween costume. But there are so many on offer - which lenses are truly spectacular and which are a waste of money? Find out what costume contact lenses are available and how to select the brand that is best for you.

There are two major types of Halloween special effect contact lenses - round (traditional shape for contact lenses that only cover the colored area of your eye) and scleral costume lenses (covers the entire visible portion of your eye, leaving no white visible). There are also semi-scleral lenses - they are larger than the ordinary ones, but some white is still visible at the corners of your eyes.

If you are not very experienced with color contact lenses, it is best to go with ordinary (round) lenses. Scleral Halloween contacts create a great effect, but they are more difficult to insert and remove, and sometimes not very comfortable to wear. Also, scleral lenses are very expensive - usually upwards from $200 per lens. Semi-scleral lenses, on the other hand, can be a good compromise, because they are reasonably easy to put in and take out and they don't cost that much.

All special effect lenses are completely opaque. Unlike some color contact lenses, costume lenses are equally suitable for light eyes and dark eyes - they completely mask your natural color anyway. The center of the lens is usually clear, so you can see. If you need vision correction, you should be pleased to know that some Halloween special effect contact lenses, like Wild Eyes and Crazy Lenses, come with corrective powers. If your vision is perfect, you can just get plano (zero powers) lenses.

What Halloween special effect lenses are on offer?

The variety of special effects lenses designs is amazing. You can find anything you want, from classic hot red or cat eyes to frost, Dune or Alien designs. The most popular and exciting looking lenses are Banshee, Cat Eyes (which you can get in yellow, red or white) Vader, Wolf Eyes, Black-outs and White-outs. You can also get lenses with the logo of your favorite sports team or symbolic prints like smiley face or stars and stripes.

See designs of Halloween contact lenses

And if you have your own design in mind you can order custom-made contact lenses. There are many companies online that employ contact lens artists to create individually painted lenses. Of course, this type would cost a lot and you will have to place your order in advance.

Halloween contacts collections and manufacturers

Two collections dominate the special effect Halloween contacts market - Crazy Lenses, produced by Cooper Vision, and Wild Eyes, produced by Ciba Vision.

Crazy Lenses offers white-out lenses, black, red and white spiral, wolf eyes, fire and bloodshot. Crazy Lenses come as monthly disposable contacts as well as traditional (annual replacement lenses). Actually, if you won't wear your Crazy Lenses every day and care for them properly, annual lenses can last up to 18 months. If you are looking for the cheapest option for this Halloween - monthly disposable Crazy Lenses is usually the cheapest high quality contact lens you can get. Crazy Lenses are available with or without prescription.

Wild Eyes are annual replacement special effect lenses. You can get Cat Eye, Hypnotica, Black-out and White-out, Icefire, Zoomin, Zebra, Jaguar and Wildfire. Wild Eyes colors are bright and vivid and the lenses are very comfortable. You can get Wild Eyes with or without corrective powers.

9mmSFX lenses - the company that created special effect lenses for movies such as Hellraiser, Blair Witch Project 2, The Adventures of Pluto Nash and many other famous movies. They offer hundreds of designs, all of their lenses are hand-painted, and they create unbelievable effects. The only draw-back is that 9mmSFX lenses are not mass produced - so they cost a lot.

Compare Halloween costume contacts by different brands and have great scary fun!

About the Author

Tanya Turner is a colored contact lens expert and a publisher of Contact Lenses Consumer Guide which provides you with consumer information about color contact lenses Contact lenses for Halloween, and costume contact lenses reviews and photos
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Who would have thought that something as boring as a sight correction device could become a must have fashion accessory? But they have!

Contact lenses started out in the 1950s as hard glass lenses. Over the years they progressed into hard plastic lenses, which were both uncomfortable to wear and expensive to buy.

In the 1970s manufacturers developed soft plastic lenses and the contact lens revolution began... and now color and crazy contacts have become the latest and greatest fashion craze.

They're not called crazy contacts for nothing! There are an amazing variety of different looks that you can achieve with these lenses: you can change the color and even the shape of your eyes with ease.

Going out to fancy dress party? Then have some fun. Grab yourself a cat costume, a pair of cat eye contacts - with their yellow background and vertical black slit pupils - and you'll look 'purrrrrfect'!

Want to be a Werewolf instead? Easy. Wear the wolf lens with it's lunar yellow around the pupil and the black border - just make sure you don't go out on the full moon!

Going as Dracula? Wear the scary Vampire contacts with their blood red pupils and outer black rim and make an immediate impact. Suddenly you're transformed into a Spectacular Dracula!

Try out some of the other wild shapes available: like the Red Spiral, which transforms your eyes into a red and white spiral. Or the Fire contact lenses with their yellow flames circling your pupil around a red background.

Why not freak out your friends, put in your White lenses and turn the whole of your eyes completely white!

Have some fun after long night out on the town, next morning sneak in the Bloodshot contact lenses. With their criss-crossing red "blood vessels" they're sure to get a laugh!

Be a patriot! Crazy contacts also come in flags.. no guessing what your eyes will look like if you wear the Stars and Stripes contacts!

They also come in handy when supporting your favorite football team. Pop in the NFL lenses and proudly sport the logo of your team in the whites of your eyes.

Despite all the great things you can do with them let's not forget, of course, that crazy contacts are real contact lenses, so you'll need a prescription from your eye doctor.

Although anyone can wear them, even if you don't need them for vision, it's still advisable to see your eye doctor and get them fitted properly so you don't put yourself at risk from eye infections.

With all of their weird, wacky and wonderful patterns, shapes and color combinations, it's no wonder Crazy contacts have become a must have fashion accessory - they're fun with a capital F!



About the author:

Elaine Clay is the owner of Online Contact Lenses Guide.com - Get articles, information, tips and advice all about the different types of contact lenses available.

Feel free to use this article - provided it is published in it's entirety, with my resource box and a "live" clickable link to: http://www.online-contact-lenses-guide.com

Contact Lenses - the Latest Trends

Contact Lenses - the Latest Trends

Have you been wearing the same contact lenses for the last few years? If so, it might be time for a change.

Contact lens manufacturers constantly work on improving contact lenses. The goal is to produce lenses that you can wear all day long without any danger or discomfort to your eyes. Contact lens quality has seriously improved over the last few years. See how modern contact lenses can help your eyes to feel and see better.

30 days wear contact lenses

How would you like to put your contact lenses in your eyes in the morning and not worrying about them for the next 30 days? Sounds almost too good to be true, but there are contacts that you can safely wear for a month.

Most contact lenses can be worn for no longer than 8-10 hours in a row because the lens blocks the flow of oxygen to your eyes. This can cause irritation and promote bacterial infection.

However, the new generation of lenses, made from a different material (silicone hydrogel lenses), have much higher oxygen permeability. For example, Focus Day and Night lets through 6 times more oxygen than conventional contacts. With more oxygen reaching your eyes, wearing contact lenses for 30 days becomes a safe option.

There are two lenses that are FDA approved for continuous wear for up to 30 days - Focus Night and Day by Ciba Vision and Pure Vision by Bausch & Lomb.

The downside of extended wear contacts is that if you live or work in a dusty or smoky environment, tiny particles will get into your eyes, so the lenses won't feel comfortable for several days.

Silicon-hydrogel contacts

Discomfort and dry eyes are constant complaints among contact lens wearers. Contact lens manufacturers worked very hard on developing lenses that don't dry your eyes, even by the end of the day. The result of this research is silicon hydrogel contact lenses. You can wear them from the early morning till midnight and they feel comfortable all day long.

One of the most successful silicone hydrogel contacts is new Acuvue Oasis. It is made of senofilcon A, which is a new silicone hydrogel material that - according to the manufacturer - is 50 percent smoother than other silicone hydrogel contacts. There is also a special moisture-rich wetting agent, called Hydraclear Plus, for additional comfort.

Another comfortable silicon hydrogel contact lens is O2Optix. It is a 2 week disposable lens which you can occasionally leave in overnight. O2Optix is also quite affordable - especially if you buy it online with a discount.

1 day disposable contact lenses

Even though cleaning contact lenses takes only a minute, many people find it a hassle. Now, when the production costs of contact lenses has significantly decreased, daily disposable contacts have become affordable and very popular.

Daily disposable lenses have a number of advantages:

• the lens is fresh and sterile every morning, when you put it in


• there is no hassle with cleaning and storing your contact lenses


• no storage or cleaning solution is required, so you save on contact lens caring products


• there is no protein build ups on the lens


• they are ideal for people with allergies

The majority of contact lens manufacturers have lines of daily disposable contacts. The most popular disposable lenses are 1 Day Acuvue and Focus Dailies.

If you are generally happy with the lenses you wear now, but wish for even more comfort and less hassle, ask your doctor if he or she can switch you to daily disposable contacts from the same brand.

Find out more about daily disposable contacts , compare and review different brands

Color contact lenses - the most popular contacts on the market

Did you ever think that you can kill two birds with one stone, and change your eye color while correcting your vision? If you have to wear contact lenses anyway, try color contacts. Recently developed color contact lenses can give you a vivid, yet natural, look.

You can get two types of color contacts - enhancement color lenses, which are half transparent and designed to enrich your natural color; and opaque lenses, which can change your color completely, even if you have dark eyes.

Modern color contacts even come as 2 week and 1 month disposables.

The most popular color lens collections are:

• Freshlook Colorblends to change color of dark or light eyes


• Freshlook Radiance - enhancement lenses to make your eyes sparkly


• Acuvue 2 Color opaque and enhancement lenses


• Focus Softcolors (2 weeks and monthly disposable) - enhancement lenses to brighten light eyes and give them a tint of blue, green or aqua

See pictures of people wearing exciting color contacts

About the Author

Tanya Turner is a contact lens expert and a founder of www.1-contact-lenses-consumer-guide.com/, where you can find unbiased information about eye health and contact lenses. You can also find information on how to buy cheap contact lenses online
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Do you want to be noticed in a crowd, but don't know how? You want to change something about how you look, but are afraid to do anything that is permanent, right? If so, colored contact lenses might be what you have been searching for. Even if you do not use contact lenses as a way to correct vision, you can still use them to provide a change in your appearance.

Color tints however, are the contacts that are used to change eye color; these are what most people think of when color contacts come to mind. The color tint lenses have a deeper color added to the lens that allows the natural color of the eye to be completely hidden. These are the types of lenses that are available to transform the eye into something that is truly unusual.

The most important tip, do not, under any circumstances share your contacts with anyone. This is mentioned because most people that use color contact lenses don't intend for them to be permanent and the desire to try them might over rule common sense. This is said strictly for your safety.

The visibility tint is a lens with a light green or light blue tint that has been added for ease of contact use, this is also very helpful if one is dropped, but does not affect eye color at all. The enhancement tint lenses feature a solid and translucent tint of color that does affect eye color, but only slightly. These color contact lenses are not meant to change the eye color, but rather to enhance it, to make it more intense.

Color contact lenses come in a variety of colors and shades. They are available in blue, green, brown, violet, hazel and grey with new colors emerging all the time. These are great for someone who is tired of how they look and want a temporary change. Color contact lenses are available in three basic tints, the visibility tint, enhancement tint and the color tints. Each of these types of contacts serves a specific purpose for contact lens wearers.

About the author:

John Mancini has been writing about Contact Lenses online and offline for a long time. Visit http://contact-lenses-home.info or http://contact-lenses-central.info to read more about matters like color contact lenses and Acuvue contact lenses.

Color Contact Lenses - Change Your Eye Color in the Blink of an Eye

Color Contact Lenses - Change Your Eye Color in the Blink of an Eye

Did you ever wish that you had a different eye color? Or maybe you just want to do something a bit crazy and have different color eyes for each party? Color contacts can do wonders for your appearance, but only if you select the right type and color. Learn how to get the best out of your color lenses, what your options are and what to consider when selecting color contacts.

Do color lenses really change your eye color and look natural?

This is a question that worries most people who want to try color contacts for the first time. After all, you want people to think �what gorgeous eyes she has� not �what nice contact lenses she wears�.

Color lens manufacturers are aware of the issue and try to make color contacts look vivid, yet natural. There is a lot of sophisticated technology involved in the brand name color contacts like Acuvue 2 Colors or Freshlook. The lens isn�t just solid color, it has a pattern similar to the pattern of a human eye. Also the color isn�t consistent throughout the lens, just like in most people eyes. See color contact lens comparison

Color lens choices for light eyes

Depending on the effect you want to create, people with light eyes can wear enhancement or opaque color contacts.
If you just want to enhance your natural color, half transparent, enhancement lenses would be great for you. The best choices are:

Acuvue 2 Colors Enhancers - to brighten your eyes.

Freshlook Radiance - lenses with an illuminating effect that enhances your color and makes your eyes appear sparkly.

Freshlook Dimensions - unique lens design makes your eyes appear not only brighter but also creates the impression of depth and dimension.

If you feel adventurous and want a dramatic change, go for opaque lenses:

Acuvue 2 Colors opaques

Freshlook Colorblends

If it is your first time with color contact lenses and you aren�t sure what effect you want, start with enhancement lenses. This way your friends will notice that you look more appealing, but they probably won�t notice what it is about you that attracts their attention.

Color contact lenses for dark eyes

If you have very dark eyes and tried color contact lenses a few years ago, you probably were not very impressed with the effect. Contacts of the previous generation didn�t look quite right. However, recently developed color lenses like Freshlook Colorblends can do wonders for dark eyes.

One thing to remember, however, is that enhancers don�t work on brown eyes, so your only choice is opaque contact lenses. Acuvue 2 Colors opaques and Freshlook Colorblends work best for dark eyes.

Also you should be careful, when selecting the color. It should be a color that would look right with your skin and hair. See color contact lens chart with suggestions and photos.

If you just want to make your eyes seem brighter and more vivid, without changing their color, go for brown or hazel color lenses. This way your eyes won�t look a different color, but people will notice that they are bright and lively.

Opaque color contacts work very well. The only thing they can�t do for you is to make your eyes light. Blue, green and aqua opaque contacts create a deep, vivid color, which suits people who have naturally brown eyes.

Do color contacts come with corrective powers?

Acuvue 2 Colors and all Freshlook collections come with visual correction powers as well as in plano (no correction). Additionally, Freshlook Colorblends is the only color lens that comes in toric, so it is suitable for people with astigmatism.

So which is better: Acuvue 2 Colors or Freshlook?

There is no single answer to this question. Both brands of lens are very comfortable to wear and create a great look. The only difference is in the colors. On the same person, blue from Acuvue would look very different from Freshlook blue. It really depends on your eyes and face, and it�s almost impossible to predict the result until you wear your color contacts.

Don�t pay to much attention to how the lens looks in the picture, because on you it will probably look different. This happens mostly with enhancer lenses - blue enhancers over blue eyes look very different from enhancers over gray eyes. Opaque color contact lenses also can look very different on different people; this is not due to your natural eye color, but because of eye shape, skin and hair types.

When you narrow your choice to one color, I would recommend asking your doctor for two prescriptions: one for Acuvue 2 Colors and another for Freshlook. Then order both. They cost pretty much the same, so you would spend no more than if you were to order 2 boxes of each.

Then, after wearing your new color contacts for a while, you can decide for yourself, which looks better.

Also, doctors usually give you free trial color contacts. You can�t really wear them in public because trial lenses have the word �test� imprinted on them, but it gives you a fair idea about the color. Ask for two free pairs, one from Freshlook and one from Acuvue, and see which looks best.

As far as the price is concerned, Freshlook and Acuvue 2 Colors cost about the same for a 6-lens box. However, all Freshlook lenses are monthly disposable, while Acuvue 2 Colors is a 2-week disposable contacts lens. So it turns out that Freshlook is twice cheaper. And you can get them both with a great discount - see how to get cheap color contact lenses

If you were thinking of giving yourself a little treat, getting color contacts would not disappoint you. And now when you know what would work best for you, you can make your choice with confidence.

Happy changing!

About the Author

Tanya Turner is a contact lens expert and a founder of Contact Lens Consumer Guide, where you can find unbiased information about eye health and all types of contact lenses with reviews and pictures
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If you wear glasses and are wanting to try contact lenses, you probably have lots of questions, including where to buy contact lenses, how to get the best price and if buying online or buying a private label lens is a good idea. Maybe you should just stick with you local eye doctor for your lenses?

1- Did you know that you have the right to have your contact (and glasses) prescription copied so that you can shop around for eyewear? The legislation, in Feb. 2004 gave that right to consumers in all 50 states. This means that you do not have to buy contact lenses only from your eye care practitioner. You can shop around anywhere that contacts are sold. Doing this gives you a better selection at a better price.

2- You may be starting your search for contacts with preconceived notions as to which are the best source to buy contact lenses, throw those out! Do not discount any place that sells contacts, look into what they have to offer and what their prices are; you might be surprised at where you will find the best quality and price.

3- When you buy contact lenses, you need to focus on value and not on price alone. The overall value includes the availability of the contacts that you use, if they accept your insurance (and if you need to do paperwork or if they do it for you), ease of getting the contacts (do they deliver), their customer service department and price. Taking all of these points into consideration will help you to find the absolute best value for you.

4- You may be tempted to buy another brand of contact lens to save money. If you are thinking of doing this, you must be aware that by law, retailers must sell the exact same lens as prescribed. However, there is a loophole to the law that could allow you to buy contact lenses that are the same quality, but at a much better price. The loophole is that some manufacturers sell one type of contact lens under more than one brand name. For example, the same contact lens sold under a brand name and under a private label.

5- The best places to start your search are, of course, your eye doctor, the internet and wholesale retailers as well as mail order houses. Be sure that you know exactly what type of contact lens you need to purchase before you agree to anything. Ask about their return policy if you receive a contact lens other than what you ordered.

About the author:

John Mancini has been writing about Contact Lenses online and offline for a long time. Visit http://contact-lenses-web.com or http://contact-lenses-now.net to read more about matters like bifocal contact lenses and color contact lenses.

Wearing Contact Lenses

Wearing Contact Lenses

If you've never worn contact lenses, you may not appreciate the amazing selection available on today's market. Be glad: you have much more choice than in the past. With so many options, how do you choose the right type of contact lenses?

Your doctor can probably help you figure out which contact lenses are best for you. Some contact lenses are suited to certain vision problems, like astigmatism. Others, like extended-wear contact lenses, are marketed to suit certain lifestyles. Colored contact lenses sometimes are used by people who don't even need prescription lenses but just want to change their eye color. Regardless, contact lenses should only be purchased by a professional eyecare practitioner, who knows how to properly fit the lenses and help you take care of your eyes. In fact, in the United States, it is illegal to purchase contact lenses without a valid prescription.

It's good to be informed about the different types of contact lenses before making your decision. Different contact lenses need to be replaced on different cycles. Some pairs last a month, some only two weeks. Other contact lenses are made to be worn only for one day. These contact lenses usually cost more, as you are paying for convenience.

It is important not to sleep in your contact lenses unless your practitioner says it's okay. Even contact lenses made for this purpose may not be good for you, especially if your eyes tend to be very dry. Be sure to ask.

Soft contact lenses have become most popular, as they are easy to get used to and are very comfortable to wear. While gas permeable contact lenses take longer to get used to, they last longer and tend to have less deposit buildup. Also, these contact lenses are less expensive in the long run because they don't need to be replaced as often. Some people also believe gas permeable contact lenses are better for your eye health and may even help improve vision. However, they are rigid and some people don't like how they feel.

As contact lenses have improved, so have their uses. Bifocal wearers rejoice! Many contact lens manufacturers have started making lenses that even you can wear. Ask your practitioner for details.

About The Author

Jeff Lakie is the founder of http://www.affordable-contacts.info and http://www.affordable-colored-contacts.info websites providing information on contact lenses and eyewear.
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Did you ever wish that you had a different eye color? Or maybe you just want to do something a bit crazy and have different color eyes for each party? Color contacts can do wonders for your appearance, but only if you select the right type and color. Learn how to get the best out of your color lenses, what your options are and what to consider when selecting color contacts.

Do color lenses really change your eye color and look natural?

This is a question that worries most people who want to try color contacts for the first time. After all, you want people to think �what gorgeous eyes she has� not �what nice contact lenses she wears�.

Color lens manufacturers are aware of the issue and try to make color contacts look vivid, yet natural. There is a lot of sophisticated technology involved in the brand name color contacts like Acuvue 2 Colors or Freshlook. The lens isn�t just solid color, it has a pattern similar to the pattern of a human eye. Also the color isn�t consistent throughout the lens, just like in most people eyes. See color contact lens comparison

Color lens choices for light eyes

Depending on the effect you want to create, people with light eyes can wear enhancement or opaque color contacts.
If you just want to enhance your natural color, half transparent, enhancement lenses would be great for you. The best choices are:

Acuvue 2 Colors Enhancers - to brighten your eyes.

Freshlook Radiance - lenses with an illuminating effect that enhances your color and makes your eyes appear sparkly.

Freshlook Dimensions - unique lens design makes your eyes appear not only brighter but also creates the impression of depth and dimension.

If you feel adventurous and want a dramatic change, go for opaque lenses:

Acuvue 2 Colors opaques

Freshlook Colorblends

If it is your first time with color contact lenses and you aren�t sure what effect you want, start with enhancement lenses. This way your friends will notice that you look more appealing, but they probably won�t notice what it is about you that attracts their attention.

Color contact lenses for dark eyes

If you have very dark eyes and tried color contact lenses a few years ago, you probably were not very impressed with the effect. Contacts of the previous generation didn�t look quite right. However, recently developed color lenses like Freshlook Colorblends can do wonders for dark eyes.

One thing to remember, however, is that enhancers don�t work on brown eyes, so your only choice is opaque contact lenses. Acuvue 2 Colors opaques and Freshlook Colorblends work best for dark eyes.

Also you should be careful, when selecting the color. It should be a color that would look right with your skin and hair. See color contact lens chart with suggestions and photos.

If you just want to make your eyes seem brighter and more vivid, without changing their color, go for brown or hazel color lenses. This way your eyes won�t look a different color, but people will notice that they are bright and lively.

Opaque color contacts work very well. The only thing they can�t do for you is to make your eyes light. Blue, green and aqua opaque contacts create a deep, vivid color, which suits people who have naturally brown eyes.

Do color contacts come with corrective powers?

Acuvue 2 Colors and all Freshlook collections come with visual correction powers as well as in plano (no correction). Additionally, Freshlook Colorblends is the only color lens that comes in toric, so it is suitable for people with astigmatism.

So which is better: Acuvue 2 Colors or Freshlook?

There is no single answer to this question. Both brands of lens are very comfortable to wear and create a great look. The only difference is in the colors. On the same person, blue from Acuvue would look very different from Freshlook blue. It really depends on your eyes and face, and it�s almost impossible to predict the result until you wear your color contacts.

Don�t pay to much attention to how the lens looks in the picture, because on you it will probably look different. This happens mostly with enhancer lenses - blue enhancers over blue eyes look very different from enhancers over gray eyes. Opaque color contact lenses also can look very different on different people; this is not due to your natural eye color, but because of eye shape, skin and hair types.

When you narrow your choice to one color, I would recommend asking your doctor for two prescriptions: one for Acuvue 2 Colors and another for Freshlook. Then order both. They cost pretty much the same, so you would spend no more than if you were to order 2 boxes of each.

Then, after wearing your new color contacts for a while, you can decide for yourself, which looks better.

Also, doctors usually give you free trial color contacts. You can�t really wear them in public because trial lenses have the word �test� imprinted on them, but it gives you a fair idea about the color. Ask for two free pairs, one from Freshlook and one from Acuvue, and see which looks best.

As far as the price is concerned, Freshlook and Acuvue 2 Colors cost about the same for a 6-lens box. However, all Freshlook lenses are monthly disposable, while Acuvue 2 Colors is a 2-week disposable contacts lens. So it turns out that Freshlook is twice cheaper. And you can get them both with a great discount - see how to get cheap color contact lenses

If you were thinking of giving yourself a little treat, getting color contacts would not disappoint you. And now when you know what would work best for you, you can make your choice with confidence.

Happy changing!

About the Author

Tanya Turner is a contact lens expert and a founder of Contact Lens Consumer Guide, where you can find unbiased information about eye health and all types of contact lenses with reviews and pictures

Color Contact Lens Care

Color Contact Lens Care

Caring for color contact lenses is not at all difficult. However, it is very important to take proper care of your color contacts, otherwise your eyes can become irritated or even infected. Discover how to care for your colored contacts simple and fast.

Whether you wear Freshlook color contacts, Acuvue 2 Colors, Expressions Colors, or custom-made color or special effect lenses, caring for them is exactly the same. All you need is a good contact lens solution, a contact lens case, a pair of soft plastic tweezers and a couple of minutes.

First of all, you should use a proper contact lens solution for cleaning your colored lenses and storing them at night. Never use ordinary water - it is full of bacteria and won't clean your lenses properly anyway.

The best solution to use is a no-rub multipurpose solution, like Opti-Free Express No-Rub. Most solutions require you to rub your lenses on the palm of your hand to clean them; however, rubbing can damage the color, which is why you need a no-rub solution. It is also a good idea to get a solution marked "for sensitive eyes" - even if your eyes are not sensitive, it can't hurt. Get a large bottle of solution, if you wear your color contact lenses every day. If you only wear them for special ocasions, though, you are better of with a smaller bottle because, once contact lens solution is opened, it is only good for six months.

The days when you needed a saline solution for storing your lenses and a cleaner for cleaning them are long gone - multipurpose solutions have taken their place. A multipurpose solution can disinfect your color lenses and remove protein build-ups, so all you need to do is to put your lenses in a case with fresh solution overnight. Be sure that you buy solution for soft contact lenses, though: solutions for rigid lenses have a different formulation.

If you use disposable contact lenses like Freshlook Colorblends or Acuvue 2 Colors, multipurpose solution is enough. If you wear more expensive hand-painted lenses that supposed to last for a year, though, you should also use protein removing tablets, to prolong the life of your lenses. This is especially recommended if you wear your color lenses every day. The pills are called enzyme or enzymatic cleaner. Soaking your lenses in this type of cleaner, once a month, will keep the color vivid and bright for many months.

For storing your color contacts you will need a contact lens case. It is best to use a case with screw-down lids, so the solution doesn't leak. If you have several color lenses, you can label each case, or get colored cases. You should wash your case with soap at least once a week and let it sit for a few minutes in boiled water, to kill bacteria, then let it dry before putting your lenses back in. It might be a good idea to carry an extra lens case, filled with solution, with you all the time - just in case your color lens folds in your eye or dust gets under it. If this happens, you can just pop out your lenses out anytime you want.

Color contact lens care step-by-step

1. Wash your hands with soap and dry them
2. Take your color lens out and thoroughly rinse each side of it with multipurpose solution, by putting some solution on it
3. Fill your contact lens case with fresh solution, place your lenses in, screw the lid on and leave your lenses to soak for at least 6 hours, or overnight. It is important to use fresh solution every time you place your lenses in it; recycling is not a good idea, in this case.
4. When you are ready to wear your contacts, rinse each side again and pop them into your eyes

Simple, isn't it? Enjoy your beautiful color contact lenses - with a bit of practice caring for them will become your second nature.

About the Author

Tanya Turner is a color contact lens expert and a founder of Contact Lenses Consumer Guide, which provides you with information about all types of contact lenses including colored contacts reviews and pictures
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(On putting the players one-on-one today) ''They have been one-on-one every day. Sometimes a little peer pressure from your teammates adds to a drill but these guys have been doing one-on-one pass rush forever.
Source: www.tbo.com

Color Toric Contacts Good News for People with Astigmatism
If you have an astigmatism it doesn't mean that you are stuck with wearing glasses. These days there are special contact lenses, called "toric", developed specially for people with astigmatism. And it gets even more exiting - you can also wear ...
Source: www.color-contacts.thecatcollar.com

Fahion Calendar: Who, What, When & Wear (San Antonio Express News)
Fashion stories and features
Source: www.mysanantonio.com

The History and Future of Contact Lenses

The History and Future of Contact Lenses

Have you ever wondered exactly how contact lenses help you see
better? How did they begin and what changes have been made?


HOW DO CONTACTS CORRECT VISION?


Your vision depends on light beams hitting the retina (the back
of your eyeball) at the same point. When the light does not meet
at the same point, vision becomes blurred.


To correct this vision problem a lens needs to be placed in
front of the eye to compensate. The lens then becomes a
'perfect' eye and light beams converge together at the retina.


While eye glasses have long provided the needed correction for
vision problems, contact lenses were a marvel of science
allowing individuals the freedom to forgo the hassle of
slipping, fogging and distracting eye glasses. The inside
surface of the contact lens is fitted to the shape of your eye
so it stays in place. The outer surface is shaped to the
corrected curve (as in eye glasses).


HOW HAVE CONTACTS CHANGED?


Originally these contacts were made of hard plastic that
required saline solution drops on a regular basis to keep moist.
They were also prone to 'popping' out and causing discomfort
when blinking.


Thankfully contact lenses have come a long way from the original
ones available years ago. Newer contacts are made from a soft
plastic that allows the eye to 'breathe'. They are much more
comfortable to wear and because of the high water content of the
material they require less maintenance during use. Soft contacts
cling to the layer of tears covering the cornea and move
slightly with each blink. This ensures that the eye stays moist
and foreign materials can be safely washed out.


Contact lenses used to only correct common vision problems like
short-sightedness (myopia - when a person can focus on objects
close to them but not far away) and far-sightedness (hyperopia -
where the individual can see well at a distance but has trouble
focusing clearly on print and other close objects). Now even
individuals with astigmatism (where the shape of the cornea is
elongated) or presbyopia (an age related condition that used to
require bi-focals) can find contact lenses to suit their unique
needs.


NEW CONVENIENCE CONTACTS AND COLOR CONTACTS


There is an endless supply of new products on the market so
every contact lens wearer can find the perfect solution.


Contacts are now available in a disposable variety that means no
cleaning is required. There are also contacts that can be worn
for a week or even a month without being removed and cleaned -
great for those who hate the daily hassle.


Many contact lens wearers are experimenting with changing the
color of their eyes. While older versions produced harsh colors,
new versions of color contacts (which can even be worn by
individuals who have no vision problems) can be found in subtle
shades and can even change dark eyes to light.


More advances are sure to be made to contacts; there is even
talk of contacts created to prevent conditions like myopia from
developing in children. Whatever happens, those with vision
problems can count on new solutions being added to the currently
available options all the time.


About the author:


Find out more about href=http://www.healthandfinesse.com>General Health at href=http://www.healthandfinesse.com>healthandfinesse.com
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Whether you�re a professional athlete, or a spirited player of many outdoor activities, a sport tinted contact lens will finally give you that competitive edge you have been looking for in protective eyewear!

Bausch & Lomb and Nike have combined forces to introduce a sport-tinted contact lens called MAXSIGHT�, and this evolutionary soft contact lens product offers two glare-resisting tints available in prescription, and non-prescription lenses. Their purpose is to help improve the athlete�s and recreational wearer's vision performance in bright distracting lights, and allow them to focus more on their game or activity that requires a clear field of vision.

Whether you�re playing rugby, baseball, golf, or even outdoor basketball, there are times when wearing sunglasses become an inconvenience. I�m sure you would agree with me that as the game gets physical, you will always have in the back of your mind that your sunglass frames may go flying off at any moment, fog up, or at the least cause blind spots in your overall peripheral vision. Factor in hot sunny humid days, and the sweat causing your eyewear to slip, not only becomes annoying, but also a disruption to your overall performance!

How Do These Tinted Vision Lenses Work, You Ask?

There is a patented Light Architecture concept that filters certain wavelengths of light, which allows them to visually enhance key elements in the sport activity you�re playing. Whether it is a baseball, or a golf ball, the lenses filter out blue light, and help improve critical details in your sporting environment by manipulating the remaining colors to offer a clear visual range. This is very important when the glare of the sun needs to be reduced for you to properly keep focused during fast paced activity.

Depending on what type of sports you participate in, there are two types of tints that benefit certain sport needs. If you were involved in soccer or tennis for example, where there are fast moving balls in variable light conditions, you would benefit from an amber lens. For people golfing, running, or playing football, the grey-green lens is best for you to prevent the sun's glare, and provide more visual comfort.

Now don�t get these optical performance lenses mixed up with other tinted lens products! The major difference between Nike's tinted lenses is that they cover the entire surface of the contact lens, and in addition the tints are specially formulated to block certain wavelengths of light. Unlike many other soft contacts on the market today, they�re normally a cosmetic tint only, and don�t have maximum eye protection from the elements. To date, this lens is the only commercially available sport-tinted contact lens on the market!

You Need A Vision Prescription For Nike's Tinted Lenses!

If you�re truly serious about improving your vision during your desired sporting activity, then you must contact an eye care professional and get fitted for these lenses! They are available for people that require vision correction, and as well for people who do not need vision correction. Once you purchase your pair, they will be the exact same as daily wear lenses, which will need to be replaced monthly. Of course this can vary depending on how often you wear them, and what your eye doctor recommends in regards to the duration you can wear them.

I�m sure at this time you�re wondering when and where you can get your hands on a pair of these lenses. These tinted lenses have recently been cleared by the FDA on April 26, 2005 and are available to you by many of the large online and retail eye care professionals later this summer. The best way to find out more information is to go directly to Bausch & Lomb�s website at: www.bausch.com/ , however, I�m certain you will know when they're out, by the mass advertising campaigns taking place.

Your vision is a critical element in any sport you participate in, and with technology taking sport lenses to the next level, I�m sure most athletes will welcome this new addition. Keep one thing in mind as you research this product, is that even though they protect you from UVA and UVB at a certain level, they are not a complete substitute for sunglasses. You will find out that these lenses only cover part of your eye, and do not protect your entire eye tissue. This is important information to know before you purchase these tinted lenses.

About the Author

About the author: William is the owner and the author of �Order Contacts Online 1st� available at www.order-contacts-online-1st.com A great source to order Colored Contact Lenses online! Compare contact lens sites, and find all the styles of colored contacts in prescription and non-prescription lenses.

Contact Lenses Or Eyeglasses? Which Option Is Best For You?

Contact Lenses Or Eyeglasses? Which Option Is Best For You?

Which is better, eyeglasses or contact lenses?

This bout is scheduled for 5 rounds�

There is no cut and dry answer to this question. While eyeglasses vs contact lenses is not a bout that would sell out Ceasar's Palace, it is of importance to most of us who rely on vision correction.

Because the eyeglasses vs contact lenses debate is of such interest to so many, Let's look at the general pros and cons for each type of vision correction.

I'll give you the facts and you can then decide for yourself which is best for you.

Round 1 - Quality of Vision:

Eyeglasses provide crisp clear and consistent vision straight ahead. There are not many variables to vision throughout the day because with glasses you are looking through a solid piece of plastic.

Contacts give you good straight ahead vision, however it is not as consistent as with glasses. Soft lenses are made of plastics and water and are therefore prone to change with environmental variables. For example, air conditioners and circulated air can cause your lenses to dehydrate leading to blurred vision. To clear your lenses, all you need to do is blink.

Round 2 - Distortions:

Eyeglasses again, give you great crisp vision straight ahead. Anything that is not straight ahead will have an element of distortion. The stronger your correction and the more astigmatism you have, the greater the distortion will be. If you are nearsighted (minus lenses) everything will seem small and far away with glasses. If you are farsighted (plus lenses) everything will appear larger and closer.

Because contact lenses rest directly on the eye, distortion is drastically reduced. In fact, people who have high corrections and are new to lenses often take a little time to get used to seeing without distortion. Contacts give you more true to life vision.

Round 3 - Peripheral Vision:

Eyeglasses do not give you any peripheral vision. Any area of the lens you look through except the optical center will give you a distorted image. If you are wearing glasses, your entire head needs to move to see an image clearly, which makes backing up a car very difficult for many.

Contact lenses provide a full range of vision; furthermore, you can move your eyes only and still see clearly. Peripheral vision is a huge plus of contact lenses.

Round 4 - Comfort:

When properly fit, eyeglasses can be very comfortable. With new lightweight lens materials and frames, most any prescription can look and feel good. The higher the prescription and the larger the frames, the thicker (and heavier) the lenses will be.

Contact lenses, when fit correctly, are also extremely comfortable. Regardless of the correction, there is no heavy frame on your face or thick lenses to weigh you down. Certain eyes may take a little more time and patience to find a comfortable fit. In my experience; most anyone can wear comfortable contact lenses.

Round 5 - Style:

Frames can be stylish. No doubt about it. It's the lenses in the frame that can make them, err� not so chick. High minus lenses have thick edges and give the appearance of small beady eyes. High plus lenses have thick centers and give the appearance of large, magnified, eyes.

With contact lenses, nobody has to know you are wearing them. Unless you want them to know you wear lenses. In this case you can wear colors or theatrical lenses to accessories your eyes.

The results are in: Now you have the facts, you can decide for yourself which is best for you. With the comfort and ease of contact lenses today, there is nothing wrong with wearing contacts part time and glasses the rest of the time.

About the Author

Steve Cogger is a contact lens specialist in New York City. His website, www.All-About-Contact-Lenses.com provides information for all lens wearers
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Whether you�re wearing contact lenses for the first time or you�re a current wearer seeking a new option, the choices have never been so diverse and plentiful.

The technology and designs available will make you�re contact lenses wearing experience a comfortable and convenient one. Some of the wonderful contact lens types include; disposable contact lenses, colored contact lenses, rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, toric and bifocal lenses and extended wear lenses.

The first step for anyone wanting to wear contact lenses is a visit to an eyecare practitioner, even if you just want to change eye color. Ophthalmologists, optometrists and in some states opticians are considered to be eyecare practitioners and can write a valid contact lenses prescription. In the United States contact lenses can only be legally purchased with a written contact lens prescription.

You�re eyecare practitioner will first check to see if you can safely wear contact lens, most people can, there are however some who cannot. Next you�re eyecare practitioner will do a thorough examination of both eyes and a contact lens fitting to determine you�re contact lens prescription. It is important to remember that contact lenses are medical devices and if not properly prescribed and fitted a person could suffer discomfort, abrasion, swelling and in some rare instances permanent eye damage. Regular eye exams are necessary to ensure any problems are looked at and taken care of.

Benefits of Wearing Contacts:
There are many benefits to wearing contact lenses. Contact lenses are so delicately designed that the wearer doesn�t even know they are there. Contact lenses eliminate the barriers that eyeglasses provide with the line of sight from above, below and the sides of the eyes, allowing for incredible peripheral vision while reducing and often eliminating image distortion often caused by eyeglasses.

Disposable Contacts:
Disposable contacts are the most common type of discount contact lenses. They offer both health and convenience benefits, and are a favorite among eyecare practitioners and consumers alike, because of the wonderful health benefits and convenience they offer. Disposable lenses designs should be worn for a certain amount of time, thrown out and replaced with a fresh pair of lenses. There are three main types of disposable contact lenses; disposable contact lenses which can be discarded and replaced every two weeks or sooner (some are daily); the traditional or reusable contact lenses that are replaced approximately every six months or longer and the frequent replacement contacts which are replaced monthly or quarterly. There can be confusion between what is known as the replacement schedule and the wearing schedule. The replacement schedule is the difference between disposable, traditional or reusable and frequent lenses, and exactly how often they are discarded and replaced. Whereas the wearing schedule refers to how often you�re contact lenses are removed but not necessarily discarded. Usually the name of the contacts such as daily wear or extended wear will refer to how often the lenses should be removed.

Color Contact Lenses:
Color contact lenses are a great way to either give yourself a subtle or dramatic change to your look. The color contact lenses are available in both prescription and plano (non prescription) form. There are four types of colored contact lenses; visibility tints, enhancement tints, opaque color tints and light-filtering tints. The visibility tints usually come with a green or light blue tint added to the lens, and this is primarily so you can see well during insertion and removal or if the contact lenses are dropped. The visibility tints do not affect eye color. Enhancement tints are a solid (yet translucent) tint that also does not affect eye color. What they do as the name implies is enhance the existing eye color of the wearer.

Color tints are the deeper, opaque tints that dramatically change the wearers eye color. These lenses are great for anyone wanting a dramatic change in their eye color and appearance. The color contacts are available in a wide variety of colors, including green, hazel, violet, blue, amethyst and gray. Lastly the light-filtering tints are a great option for sports enthusiasts. These special contact lenses are designed for specific sports use as they enhance certain colors. One color of the light-filtering tints is the optic yellow, because this is the color of tennis balls and some golf and softballs the lenses enhance the yellow while muting other colors, making the ball stand out against the background.

Rigid Gas Permeable Lenses:
Rigid gas permeable lenses (RGP) are probably the highest quality lenses available today. They offer excellent quality of vision (some will say crisper vision), durability, and retain their shape better when blinking. The lenses allow for oxygen to reach your eye therefore creating more comfort and better eye health. The lenses have a more lengthy adjustment period than the soft lenses and must be worn everyday to maintain the comfort level, otherwise if not worn everyday it will take time to adjust to again.

Bifocal and Toric Lenses:
A comfortable and convenient way to correct presbyopia (aging eyes) is with bifocal contact lenses. These contact lenses can replace the bifocal eyeglasses that we are used to seeing on people. The bifocal contacts are available in both soft and rigid gas permeable lenses, and in disposable or frequent replacement wear. Toric contact lenses treat the eye condition known as astigmatism (irregularly shaped cornea). The toric contact lenses have only become available recently in soft contact options. The lenses are available in disposable, frequent replacement, multifocal and color varieties of lenses.

Extended Wear Lenses:
Extended wear contact lenses are the most convenient of all the contact lenses. Extended wear allows for overnight wear up to thirty days. Most of the extended wear contact lenses available can be worn without removal for up to seven days, there are only a couple of brands that can be worn for up to thirty days of continuous wear. There is a higher health risk compared with the nightly removal lenses. The nice thing about the extended wear lenses is you don�t have to worry about lens care, you must be sure however to discard and replace your lenses according to their wear schedule to avoid any risk of infection. A nice option in the extended wear lenses is the flexible wear lenses. This allows you to nap or occasionally sleep in your lenses, perhaps on a weekend trip, while only wearing the lenses on a daily wear basis.

Conclusion
Everyone�s individual needs and preferences will come into play when selecting their contact lenses. With the wonderful assortment of contact lenses available there is a lens that will offer both comfort and convenience to the most particular of consumers. Valerie Giles owns and operates Eyewear-4U http://www.eyewear-4u.com, an eyewear site featuring fashion eyewear, sports eyewear, prescription eyewear, discount sunglasses and contact lenses as well as accessories. The accompanying article is copyrighted. It may be reproduced only if the hyperlinks here are left intact.