If you are under forty years of age, chances are you cannot recall a time when people did not wear contact lenses. Hard lenses first became popular during the 1960s, and the introduction of soft contacts during the next decade opened the door to many optic advances. Soft lenses can be worn all night, are disposable, and relatively inexpensive. Designer contacts go a step further, and do more than simply correct bad vision.

Anything humans wear is subject to fashion, including prescription eye-wear. Millions of people around the world need some kind of vision correction, and for most people that starts with wearing glasses. Glasses, unfortunately, tend to break, can be uncomfortable, and can look a little less than stylish. Even those public personalities who popularize certain looks in glasses can\’t quite make them fit all occasions, even with multiple pairs.

When contact lenses came along, fashion mavens immediately saw an opportunity. While most people in the beginning wore them because of their superior ability to correct vision, others put them in because they simply wanted others to notice. Today, changing the color of the eyes to match a specific outfit or mood does have extreme appeal for many people.

The plastics in contact lenses have been vastly improved. In the beginning, most lenses were hard, and worn only during the day. Today\’s lenses are soft, light, and even more important to fashion designers, can be easily tinted. Some lens makers specialize in various colors, and even with patterns imprinted on the lens. The main marketing focus is toward women, and especially those who want to change the look of their eyes on a daily basis.

In fact, they have become another fashion accessory for many. On a purely cosmetic basis, wearing them can totally change an individual\’s basic appearance. For those with dark brown or black eye color, there is now an extensive array of lenses that cover the original colored iris with a completely different hue. Many of these colors are amazingly realistic, and can match nearly any shade.

The most popular colored lenses come in variations of blue and green. They can cover any original eye color, and especially enhance those eyes that are already a shade of blue or gray. Some industry analysts estimate that up to half of the people wearing these kinds of lenses do not actually need their vision corrected, but simply like the ability to change colors to fit the occasion.

In addition to colorful tints, there are now \”true\” designer lenses. This means that those who gaze deeply into your eyes may be able to see a designer logo or emblem actually branded into the plastic. Important for the brand-conscious, they are becoming as much a status symbol as expensive handbags and shoes. Some designers are also adding a kind of \”sparkle\” by actually embedding shiny material around the portion of the lens covering the edge of the iris.

For most of us, however, it is important to remember that our real eyes are not yet replaceable, and some poorly fitting or cheaply manufactured lenses are capable of inflicting damage under the right circumstances. The cornea needs oxygen, and a good fit is essential. That means initially seeing an eye doctor prior to actually wearing any designer contacts, and making sure your own eyes can adapt to them successfully and without complications.

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Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: eye care, contact lenses, beauty, eye contacts,glasses, beauty, business, fashion,society