If you've ever seen a movie about vampires or monsters where people have oddly colored eyes, cat eyes or other types of eyes, you've seen special effects contact lenses in action. These contact lenses, rather than correct sight (though some are actually prescription as well) create a special effect in the eye.
These lenses come in a wide variety of types and are available to the general public. While certain special effect contact lenses are designed especially for a movie, you can also expect to find similar ones on the public market within a few months after the movie is released.
Styles of Special Effects Contact Lenses
There are so many different types of these contact lenses that you can really get any look you want. For some people, this means simply changing their eye color. Light eyes can easily become any color you like, from green to blue to brown or even purple. Dark eyes are more limited in the options, but can usually go with black, dark green and sometimes a dark blue or purple.
For more zany effects, there are plenty of other options. Everything from the very scary cat eyes or red hellish eyes to more benign smiley face contacts can be had. There are circuit board contacts, zebra or tiger stripes, and just about anything else you can imagine. There are even images available to place in your eyes, so you can have a tiny flower or mountain scene actually placed on your eye.
Not every special effects contact company will provide all of these options, but you'll find that the catalogs of effects are quite surprising.
Why Use Special Effects Contact Lenses
For some people, it's a matter of feeling better about themselves. If you don't like your eye color, for example, being able to change it to something you feel is more acceptable can be a good boost for your self esteem.
For others, it's about conveying who they are inside. Science fiction fans, for example, might want to use eye color and styles that represent their favorite sci-fi characters. Those who are fascinated by vampires may prefer vampire style eyes while those interested in technology might want to surprise their friends with circuit board eyes.
Special effect contact lenses are usually only used a handful of times. Some are actually one use only and they are completely disposable. This type of contact lens is ideal for Halloween parties or other disguises. If you are in need of a costume for a play, special effect contacts can also come in handy, as with role playing activities.
Should You Use Contact Lenses for Effect?
Not everyone is interested in using contact lenses. If you have eye problems, you might want to talk to your eye doctor before trying special effects contact lenses. They usually aren't meant for long term use and if you aren't accustomed to wearing contacts, it is better not to leave them in for very long. Two or three hours is the recommended period for beginning contact lens wear.
If you already use glasses or contact lenses, you can get special effect lenses as prescriptions, too. So, they would just replace your regular contact lenses. Otherwise, glasses can be worn in combination with the contact lenses, though some people find this ruins the effect they are going for. For simple color changes, however, it works fine.
Special effects contact lenses can be a lot of fun to play around with, but they are also very practical if you need a new look. Check out the different options available and choose the ones that suit you.

The looks of a person can be enhanced to make a world of difference in coordination with the garment worn, thanks to the color contact lenses. Color contact lenses are merely for aesthetic purposes and are cosmetic accessories and are not for medicinal values and therefore, should be used only for a limited period of time.

Basically color contact lenses are of two types, disposable and extended wear. The former type is used only for about a week or so and the latter, up to a year and longer, depending upon the usage. Although there are many varieties and colors in color contact lenses, blue is the most popular among them all. There are light filtering tinted lenses for athletes and sports persons.

But it should be ascertained whether the contact lenses come from an optical outlet that is licensed and should be safe. Also, the color contact lenses must not have a negative impact on the vision of the wearer and must not block the vision and give a hazy look.

Color contact lenses can either be color enhancers which, as the name indicates, enhance the light color of the eyes and make them look richer and deeper. Or they can be color changers which are specifically designed to work with dark eyes, that prevents the initial color and give a new shine to the eyes. There are specialty lenses also that are meant for special effects and are called novelty contact lenses. There are opaque lenses that entirely change the color of the eye.

When taking into the consideration the safety aspects, it is important that the color contact lenses are purchased under the prescription of a medical practitioner and is from a reputable manufacturer. This is due to the fact that color contact lenses do not allow oxygen to pass through them and so should not be worn for more than six or eight hours a day and must not be worn while on sleep.

Color contract lenses are manufactured to look as natural as possible, even with a series of small colored dots on the lenses but the centre is left as such for clear visibility. As always, color contact lenses should be cleaned in a contact lens solution approved by the FDA and the quality should never be compromised.

Some of the color contact lenses are available with inbuilt ultra violet radiation protection to safeguard against the harmful sun's rays. Color contact lenses have come to stay just like a facial, skin treatment or hair fashion. Color contact lenses, undoubtedly, help to change the complete look of the person and are preferred by those who want to have an adventurous life and make them noticeable and give an effective appearance.