Halloween Contact Lenses - Safe for People Who Never Wore
Contacts Before?
Halloween contacts can add a lot of impact to your Halloween
costume. People who wear corrective contact lenses often
experiment with costume lenses as well. But if you don't wear
contacts on an everyday basis, would Halloween costume lenses be
safe and comfortable for you?
What are Halloween contacts lenses?
Halloween lenses, also called costume or theatrical lenses, are
soft contact lenses with a layer of color embedded in them. Top
quality costume lenses are produced by the companies that also
manufacture ordinary (corrective) contact lenses. To ensure that
painted special effect lenses are safe, manufacturers use
special paints that don't irritate the delicate surface of your
eye.
There are hundreds of different designs: cat's eyes, snake eyes,
spirals, white-out and black-out lenses, banshee, vampire red,
and many more besides. See pictures of Halloween costume contact lenses
Most costume lenses are completely opaque, to hide your real eye
color, with a clear center so you can see. A few designs, like
white-out, which creates an effect of blind eyes, are completely
opaque, though, so it is recommended to that you wear them only
one at a time.
The majority of theatrical contact lenses are round in shape
(like corrective lenses) and cover only your iris. However,
there is also a type of lens, called scleral, that covers the
entire visible surface of your eye. Scleral lenses are used only
for special effects (not for correction) and usually cost a bit
more than round ones. Sclerals are also more difficult to put
in.
Are costume contact lenses comfortable?
Yes, if you select the lenses that are right for you. To make
sure that your lenses are safe and comfortable, you should only
go for quality brand name special effect lenses. Currently the
most popular costume lenses on the market are Wild Eyes,
manufactured by Ciba Vision, and Crazy lenses, from Cooper
vision. Both brands are made from top quality materials, feel
comfortable in your eyes, and come in variety of exciting
designs.
Quality special effect contacts are comfortable for most people.
In fact, if the lens is properly fitted, you shouldn't feel it
at all. Soft contact lenses don't have any adjustment period and
generally feel comfortable in your eyes straight away. However,
if you don't wear contact lenses every day, you might want to
order your costume contacts in advance and wear them for a few
hours each day, several days before the party.
Costume lenses might get a bit less comfortable as the day goes
on. The reason is that they can't be as thin as clear corrective
lenses - the opaque color layer adds extra thickness - so the
lens doesn't let enough oxygen get to your eyes. It is
recommended not to wear them for longer than 8 hours. And you
should always take them out before going to bed.
Do I need doctor's prescription to get special effect
lenses?
It might sound silly, but you do. Corrective or not, costume
lenses are medical devices, and even though most people can wear
them without problems, you should consult your eye doctor and
get a prescription. Also ask the doctor how to put your costume
lenses in and take them out. All brand name special effect
contacts come with clear instructions, about putting them in and
taking them out, but it takes a bit of practice.
Where can I get Halloween costume contact lenses?
After getting your prescription comes the time to buy your
lenses. You can order them through the doctors office, but this
is the most expensive option. You would save a lot if you
purchased your Halloween lenses from an online contact lens
retailer instead. Just make sure that the shop is reputable and
specializes on contact lenses, not just Halloween costumes.
If you are wondering if it is all too much trouble, I would say
go for it. Without eyes to match, a costume just doesn't look
complete. And the care isn't at all difficult - all it takes is
a couple of minutes. Just follow the doctor's instructions.