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Cosmetic contact lenses are designed to alter the
appearance of the eye, instead of improving vision as is the case with
corrective contact lenses. The first cosmetic lenses were designed for a
Playboy model posing in a Halloween edition of the magazine. The
optometrist placed the hefty price of $5000 on the pair of lenses at the
time. Thankfully, with their increasing popularity, cosmetic lenses have
become more affordable. Since these lenses alter the appearance of the
eye, there are several different uses for them.
The most common use for cosmetic contact lenses is to change the color
of the eye. By placing the lens on the eye, the natural color of the
iris is covered by the colored lens, thus causing the eye to appear a
different color. Lens wearers change their eye color for a variety of
reasons. Sometimes it is to make a subtle change in appearance without
the permanence of surgery or dying one’s hair. Sometimes it is an
attempt to gain more respect, as some believe brown eyes denote
intelligence. In addition, some wearers of cosmetic contact lenses use
them daily while others save them for special occasions. Those that wear
them only on special occasions tend to view them as a fashion accessory,
like a pair of earrings or the right pair of shoes.
The artistic
world has adapted the use of cosmetic contact lenses in several ways.
Some examples would be the character of Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode
I: The Phantom Menace and the singer Marilyn Manson. Cosmetic contact
lenses are also used to create realistic looking werewolves, vampires,
superheroes, etc. The characters are more believable if the eyes look
real.
Cosmetic contact lenses are a growing trend among
teenagers. Teenagers are wearing lenses with words, graphics and images
on them as a way to express individuality. It would not be unusual to
walk through the halls of a high school and see a teen with zebra
striped eyes, or another with a favorite team logo displayed across one
or both eyes. In the age group where the struggle for individuality can
be tough, cosmetic contact lenses offer a way to boost a teen’s image
amongst its peers.
Along with the rise in cosmetic contact lens
wearing come warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about
the safety of wearing these lenses. All contact lenses carry risks with
continuous wear, whether they are corrective or cosmetic lenses. The FDA
is especially worried about those who wear cosmetic lenses as they tend
to view them less seriously as they would if the lenses were corrective.
The concern lies mainly with the damage unfitted lenses can do to the
eyes.
Other health issues can arise from the lenses not being
manufactured in a sterile environment. These can include conjunctivitis
(infection of the eye), edema (swelling), corneal ulcers, allergic
reactions, and in extreme cases, blindness or loss of an eye. The FDA
warns against purchasing cosmetic lenses from flea markets, convenience
stores, beach shops and the Internet. Lenses sold at these places are
generally not sterile and they do not require a prescription, thus they
hold the potential for serious eye damage.
Another health(eye)
concern is that that of cosmetic contact lenses sharing. It's like
sharing your make up or lip gloss which is not a good idea. This bad
habit of sharing lenses is rampant among teenagers, who tend to view the
lenses as a fashion accessory to be shared. Contact lenses touch bodily
fluids. When such lenses are worn by others, those fluids have the
potential to transmit diseases from one person to the other who have
wore the lenses.
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