Coloured contact lenses make the perfect addition to any fancy dress costume. They’re also a great way to enhance your natural eye colour, creating a dramatic look for any occasion. But are they safe, and where should you buy them from? Read on to find out more…
What are coloured contact lenses?
Coloured lenses help enhance the natural beauty and colour of your eyes as well as adding definition and depth to them. Eyes are also naturally brightened when wearing them. There is a range of colours to suit every eye colour and a trained optician will be able to advise you on what colour looks best.
What about a prescription?
All contact lenses that are supplied with in the UK (including non-prescription) are now classed as medical devices and should only be supplied or prescribed by a registered optician. Here at Parker & Hammond Opticians in Harrow, we understand that plans can change daily and a quiet night in can suddenly turn into a big night out! It can be tempting to go to a fancy dress shop and purchase coloured lenses because it’s cheap and convenient, but we highly advise not to do this and instead go and see an eye care professional who will be able to fit them properly. This is especially important if you’re a non-wearer as you’ll need to be shown how to put them in and remove them, as well as understanding the basic hygiene practices when handling them.
Remember these 6 points:
- Only buy coloured contact lenses from a registered optician
- Don’t wear them when sleeping
- Wash and dry your hands before touching your eyes
- Never share your lenses or let others try them out. By doing this, you run the risk of spreading and catching infections
- Never wash or store your lenses in tap water
- Don’t wear the same lenses year after year
Find out more about contact lens best practice here