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Decorative contact lenses are otherwise known as Halloween contact lenses and Special effects contact lenses. These kind of decorative lenses are mainly used in films, television, theatres and rock concerts. Nowadays, it is also available to people of all walks of like at a very affordable price. Decorative lenses are available in almost all kinds of colors, shapes and forms, to name a few are red eyed alien, green eyed reptile, zebra stripes, flowers, stars etc. Some of the latest trends and styles include hypnotic spirals, wolf eyes, eagle eyes, flames, all black, bloodshot eyes, all white etc. The decorative contact lenses could provide the perfect finishing touch in bringing out the character of the costume into life.
Decorative contact lenses can completely transform the appearance of the person by either covering the entire sclera or covering just the pupil of the eye. The decorative lenses covering the entire sclera (the entire white part of the eyes) create a fully transformed effect. The styles and designs are timeless and timely.
Decorative lenses can be very harmful to the eye, even leading to permanent eye injury or blindness when they are made out of improper materials or used improperly. Decorative lenses should be purchased after consultation with the doctor to avoid any injuries to the eye. It is advised by the FDA to get such decorative contact lenses from a licensed eye care professional.
Taking care of decorative contact lenses:
Although decorative contact lenses are very similar to that of the ordinary contact lenses, they are used to match the costume for fun and used only for short durations are has to be taken while handling such medical devices as it is worn by the precious part of the body - the eyes.
All that is required to take care of the decorative lenses are a pair of plastic tweezers, case to hold the contact lenses, no rub multipurpose cleaning solution etc. It is always good to wash the hands with mild soap before handling the decorative contact lenses as the hands might carry bacteria or fungus. Tweezers can be used to pick the lenses so that they do not tear. It can be rinsed well with a no rub multipurpose lens solution and then inserted in the eye. After use too the contact lenses should be rinsed with the solution and placed in the case with a fresh lens solution to avoid contamination.
But the days when theatrical lenses were available only to movie stars are long gone. Now everybody can get a pair of costume contacts that makes their eyes appear bright and inhuman. The only limit is your imagination.
Many people think of theatrical contact lenses only at Halloween time. But there is no reason why you can’t wear them just for going out to the club. If your eyes look like you just came back from Dune, you can be sure that your appearance won’t go unnoticed.
What are my choices?
There are many costume lenses on the market; the most popular brands are Crazy Lenses, by Cooper Vision, and Wild Eyes, by CibaVision. Both Crazy Lenses and WildEyes offer bright, exciting designs. Their lenses are also comfortable and affordable.
If you type "costume contact lenses" into a Google or Yahoo search, many different collections will show up. Some of them offer a great look for a reasonable price. However, you should always bear in mind that most paints are toxic; so some of the lenses on offer might seem beautiful, but the could also irritate your eyes. It is always best to go with costume contacts produced by major contact lens manufacturers.
And for a particularly magnificent effect, you can get scleral contacts. Unlike ordinary color contact lenses, sclerals cover not only the colored part of your eye, but the entire visible portion of your eye. Sclerals create a knock-out effect. The only draw back with scleral contacts is that they are awfully expensive.
You can also get custom-made costume lenses. This way, you can be sure that nobody would have eyes like yours, and you can have any design imaginable.
You can see pictures and reviews of different costume contact lens collections at
Do I need a prescription for costume contact lenses?
Most brand name costume contacts come in Plano (no vision correction) as well as with corrective powers. And whether or not you need visual correction, you should ask your eye doctor to fit costume lenses for you. Even if you have perfect vision, it is best to see an optometrist first.
Can I see while wearing theatrical contacts?
Yes, you can. Even though the lens is completely opaque, its center is clear so you can see. The only exceptions are white-out contacts, which create the effect of blind eyes. In this case, the entire lens is fully opaque so, unless you want to find out how it is to be blind, you should wear a white-out contact lens in one eye only.
Are costume contacts safe?
There are many FDA warnings about the dangers of costume lenses, although the lenses themselves are usually not to blame. Unfortunately, some people wear their costume contacts for several days straight, or put them in without washing their hands first, or swap the lenses with their friends, and then blame the theatrical contacts when they get an eye infection.
The truth is that if you get reputable brand name costume lenses and take proper care of them, costume contacts are as safe as any other type of contact lens.
Here are 5 simple rules, to keep costume contact lenses safe:
How do I take care of my costume lenses?
Novelty contact lenses don't require any special care; you simply treat them the same way as you would treat any contact lenses.
All you need is a multi-purpose solution and a contact lens case, which you can get in any chemist shop. Rinse your lenses in the solution before inserting them in your eyes, and don't forget to wash your hands before handling the lenses.
When you're not using your costume lenses, keep them in the solution, in their case. It is recommended that you change the solution at least once a week, if you don't use them for long periods of time. But who would bother? If you have to wear contacts that have spent a month or so in their case, just give them a double rinse in fresh solution.
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