Colored Contacts :)

Jul 12, 2013

Kt S.

HEY
I've been wanting to buy myself some Non- prescription colored contacts, the good kinds too.
Does anyone know a cheap website or store that sells them? :) Greatly Appreciated!

Jul 12, 2013

Lilianna M.

When you say "the good kinds," do you mean name brands? Also, what type of coloured contacts? There is a wide variety, and you need to be just a little more sure of what you're looking for! :)

Anywho, many sites that often sport name brand contacts ex. acuvue, freshlook etc, generally will not allow you to purchase online without your doctor's approval. :/ I say the best way to go, is to have an appointment and get fitted for your contacts, even if they are non prescription. Your eyes may react horriblu to them, you never know.

Jul 12, 2013

Lilianna M.

horribly*

Jul 12, 2013

Emily W.

Nonprescription contacts CAN be perfectly safe; BUT you need to see your optometrist first and make sure it is safe to wear them on your particular eyes. Do NOT just buy a pair and put them on--you can scratch a cornea or worse, risking permanent impaired vision and blindness.

After your doctor has measured your eyes and said that plano lenses are safe for you to wear, you can purchase a pair. However, they aren't just like any other accessory. Because they are going in your eye, there are a lot of precautions you have to take: soak each new lense overnight in contact solution (not the saline they come packaged in) before wearing; inspect both lenses thoroughly with a hand lens to look for tears, creases, or debris; and make sure you use fresh solution every time you take them out/put them back in the case.

Don't wear costume lenses for longer than a few hours. Due to the layer of pigment that gives them their color, they are thicker than traditional vision-correcting lenses. This means that not only do they dry out faster (use resetting drops frequently) but also severely retard the eyes' access to oxygen, which can lead to hypoxia and permanent damage.

Costume contact lenses often come with an expiration date. Heed that, until you are experienced with them. After you have worn many pairs over the course of several years, you will learn to recognise whether or not a lens is still good--thus being able to keep the same pair much longer than the expiration date (with proper care, of course).

Colored/costume contacts are an investment, given that the only way to ensure the health and safety of your eyes is to go about it properly. These first steps are NOT optional, lest you risk permanent injury: see your optometrist (cost depends on your insurance/doctor), buy your lens care supplies (case: ~$3, solution: ~$5, drops: ~$3), buy your lenses (cost varies, anywhere from $15 for simple colors to hundreds of dollars for specialty lenses; the average seems to be in the $20-30 range)... You're looking at at least $30-50 for one pair of lenses. That's a big chunk of change, and it is accompanied by a big responsibility.

Finally, once you have digested all of that and seen your optometrist, know this: nonprescription lenses are not sold domestically in the USA because they are not approved by the FDA. You can still order them online, but you are importing them (so buyer beware when shopping). It is crucial that you order from a reputable vendor. I prefer YouKnowIt.com (based in the UK) for quality, selection, service, and prices. Be sure to do your research before ordering.

If you are considering circle lenses, everything I already said still applies! Including the limit on wear; though they are not as thick as costume lenses they cover more of the eyes' surfaces and block oxygen. You still need to see an optometrist, especially because the shape of your eye matters more with larger lenses. For a reputable seller, I use HoneyColor. They have fast shipping, great prices, and quality lenses.

In summation: SEE YOUR OPTOMETRIST FIRST. If I could out that in big red flashing letters I would. Costume contacts are a great way to change your look, but vanity ALWAYS takes a back seat to safety.

Jul 12, 2013

Emily W.

I've been wearing colored contacts for several years, including circle lenses. I've had just about every experience with them (including putting one in inside-out, OUCH) so if anybody has questions, feel free to ask! I've actually been thinking of maybe making a blog post or perhaps a video explaining the ins and outs of nonprescription lenses, but I dunno who would be interested in that. If I did it (including demos of proper care and wear) would anybody here watch it?