A Beginner's Guide to Colored Contact Lenses

A Beginner's Guide to Colored Contact Lenses

Your eyes are the most expressive feature of your face, windows not only to your vision, but to your individuality. If you have ever imagined seeing yourself in a new light, a subtle shift in eye color can redefine your entire look with grace and depth.

Whether you seek a touch of radiance, a statement of confidence, or an element of quiet intrigue, colored contact lenses offer a refined way to transform your gaze. Each shade tells a story; from delicate tones that enhance your natural hue, to vivid colors that illuminate your expression.

Using tinted contact lenses is the most common way to transform your eye color temporarily. Colored contacts are available in both prescription and Plano (non-prescription) forms. Prescription colored contacts correct vision problems such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism, or presbyopia, while also allowing you to enhance or completely reinvent your eye color with a wide range of hues. Plano colored contacts, on the other hand, are worn purely for aesthetic expression and do not offer vision correction.
Although Plano contact lenses aren’t corrective, they must be treated with the same level of care and hygiene as regular lenses. This means always washing your hands before handling them, using a proper disinfecting solution to keep your eyes protected, and cleaning your lenses with sterile care.

Types of Colored Contacts

Colored contact lenses come in a diverse array of tones and are designed to mimic the intricate patterns of the iris, the naturally colored ring of the eye. Most of these contacts feature a delicate interplay of dots, lines, and textures to achieve a realistic look, and come in three types of tints:

Visibility tint: These lenses are lightly tinted—usually in blue or green—to help you see them better during insertion, removal, or if they are dropped. This tint is faint and does not alter your natural eye color.

Enhancement tint: These lenses feature a translucent hue that intensifies your natural eye color without completely changing it. Ideal for those with lighter eyes, enhancement tints deepen the shade and make the color more vivid.

Opaque tint: These lenses are non-transparent and can completely transform your eye color. They are perfect for darker eyes and are available in a captivating range of colors, including hazel, green, blue, violet, amethyst, brown, and gray.

Choosing the Right Color for Your Eyes

The hue that will suit you best depends on your skin tone, hair color, and the overall mood you wish to create. Ultimately, it’s about the look you want: refined and natural, or bold and expressive.

Colored Contacts for Dark Eyes

If your eyes are dark, choose opaque tints to brighten and redefine your gaze. For a natural look, try warm honey tones a few shades lighter than your natural color. For something more striking, experiment with cool violet or luminous blue lenses to create contrast and allure.

Colored Contacts for Light Eyes

If your eyes are on the lighter side, opt for enhancement tints that refine the edges of your iris and subtly deepen your natural color. And if you wish to play with a new hue while keeping a realistic appearance, soft violet or oceanic blue lenses can add a delicate twist to light eyes like gray or green.

Advice for Wearing Colored Contact Lenses

Always wash and dry your hands thoroughly before touching your lenses.

Never share your lenses with others—doing so increases the risk of infection.

If your eyes become red, irritated, or uncomfortable, remove your lenses immediately. Clean, rinse, and disinfect them before wearing them again.

Clean and store your lenses properly using fresh solution daily. Never substitute lens solution with water, and avoid rinsing lenses with tap water.

Use your cleaning solution correctly: pour a few drops into your palm and gently rub the lens with your fingertip to remove buildup.

Replace your lenses according to your optometrist’s guidance. Always source your colored contact lenses through a certified optometrist to ensure a proper fit and maintain eye health.

Daily disposables are an excellent option if you wear colored lenses occasionally.

Discard lenses after their recommended wear period to protect your eyes.

Never sleep in lenses that aren’t designed for extended wear, as this can reduce oxygen flow to the cornea and increase the risk of infection.

Take Your Complimentary Eye Test

When it comes to colored contact lenses, it’s best to consult your MAGRABi optometrist to explore the ideal options for your eyes. Book a walk-in eye test or schedule an appointment at a MAGRABi store near you. Our optometrists will evaluate your vision needs, recommend the ideal lenses, and guide you toward the perfect shade that enhances both your sight and your style.