Colored contacts allow you to change the color and look of your eyes. Production companies have been using colored contacts for years to add dramatic effects to movies. For example, zombie films often use red colored contacts to make the zombies look evil and scary. Colored contacts can transform the eyes of anyone with different tints. One of the best features about colored contacts is that they can be purchased for individuals that do not need vision correction. There are 4 main styles of colored contacts:

•     Visibility tints
•     Enhancement tints
•     Color tints
•     Light-filtering tints

A lot of contact wearers that need vision correction choose visibility tints because it helps them see the lens when they are placing it into their eyes or removing it from their eyes. The visibility tint is usually a light green or blue tint that is added to your lens, making it easier to see. Visibility tints will not affect the color of your eyes. If the contact lens becomes "lost" under your eyelid, you will have an easier time finding it with the visibility tint.

Several people like the color of their eyes, but want it to stand out a little more. The enhancement tint is the best color contact solution for these individuals. The enhancement tint is a little darker than the visibility tint. The enhancement tint will make your current eye color brighter or darker so it is more noticeable to others. Usually the enhancement tint will be a subtle change to someone's eye color.

The most popular colored contacts are the color tint contacts. The color tint contact will change the color or look of your eye. Color tints have a clear section over the pupil and darken the color around the pupil. The color tints can come in any color; green and blue are among the most popular colors. Production companies use the color tints to create characters in their movies, like villains and animals.

The final color contact is called a light-filtering tint. The light-filtering tints protects the eyes from harmful UV rays and bright lights. The light filtering tints enhance certain colors and mute other colors. Tennis players often use light-filtering tints to help them see the tennis ball easier. Golfers also use light filtering tints to help them see the various colors of green on the golf course.

Most people purchase colored contact lenses for cosmetic reasons. Colored contacts can be purchased at beauty shops, online stores, and other market vendors. These generic contacts are not fitted to your eyes and may cause irritation and scratching. It is illegal to sell contact lenses without a prescription so be weary of companies that are willing to sell you any contacts without your prescription. Before you purchase colored contacts, you should see your eye doctor for a proper fitting. Having the colored contact fitted to your eye will help eliminate additional problems. The pupils expand in low-light situations, which means they may move out of the clear area and see through the colored portion of the contact. Most contacts will move when you blink, which could cause the colored portion to move over the pupil causing your vision to be colored until you can adjust the contact lens.

Colored contacts are used for special effects and make wonderful costume enhancers. Because people do not need a vision correction prescription to wear some colored contacts, they continue wearing them longer than recommended. Special effect colored contact lenses need to be thrown away as the directions state and they should never be shared with another person. Eye infections and injuries to the eye are common problems for individuals that share colored contacts or wear them too long. Most colored contact lenses will come with solution and cleaner. Be sure to properly cleanse your contacts after wearing them and make sure there are no traces of soap or lint on the lens before you place it into your eye.

In order to obtain colored contact lenses, you must have a prescription from your eye doctor. Several companies sell colored contact lenses, but they are illegal if sold without a prescription. Cosmetic colored lenses also require a medical prescription, even if you are purchasing "cat eyes" for a Halloween party.

There are different types of contact lenses. Bifocal contacts, toric contacts, and standard contacts are a few of the most popular contacts. Contacts come as either a soft contact or a hard contact. Your eye doctor will be able to help you determine which colored contact style will fit your needs. Here are a few things you need to consider when you are selecting contacts:

First, decide if you are a candidate for contact lenses. Eye doctors will not prescribe contacts to patients that do not produce enough tears or have a history of viral infection in the cornea. Anyone under age 9 will not be able to receive contacts.

Second, determine how much you can spend on contacts. Bifocal and toric contacts are more expensive than traditional contacts. Adding color to your contacts will make them more expensive. Depending upon the style of contact lenses you purchase and the brand, you could pay anywhere from $25 a month to $150 a month for contact lenses.

Third, speak to your doctor about the fitting fee for contacts. Some eye doctors will charge additional money to patients that need to have their eye contacts re-fitted. Toric and bifocal contact fittings normally take longer and are more expensive for the patient.

Fourth, find a store that specializes in selling your contacts. Online stores that sell contact lenses will need a prescription from your eye doctor in order to sell you the contacts. If you lose your prescription, you will only be able to purchase your contacts directly from the eye doctor.

Fifth, contact your insurance company about contact coverage. Some insurance companies will only pay for contacts that are used for vision correction and not cosmetic improvement. Some insurance companies will offer discounts on contact lenses if they are purchased through a contracted retailer.

If you are purchasing colored contacts for a cosmetic effect, you need to take a few things into consideration:

First, you must decide on the impact you want your colored contacts to make. Do you want people to notice your eyes when you walk into the room? In order to select the right colored contacts, you need to consider your skin color and make-up colors. Individuals with dark skin should choose bright-colored contacts. People with brown eyes should select purple, blue, or green contacts because they enhance the eyes better.

Second, determine if you want people to notice something different about you in a subtle manner. Enhancement tints may be the better option for you if you want people to notice you, but you don't want to be the center of attention. Blue is the best lens enhancer to deepen the natural color of your eyes. If you use warm-toned make-up colors, green contact lens will add a subtle different to your eyes and match them to the warm-tones you are looking for.

Disposable colored contacts are designed to be worn once and then thrown away. Never re-use disposable contact lenses because it can cause irritation and eye infection. If you purchase re-usable contact lenses, you need to properly care for them to reduce the risk of eye infection. Follow these tips to help keep your contact lenses clean:

First, thoroughly cleanse your hands with anti-bacterial soap. Make sure to rinse all the soap from your hands and dry them with a link-free towel. Clean the contacts with solution in the palm of your hands and then rinse them. Place the cleansed contacts into a sterile contact box. Never use tap water on the contacts, as it will cause them to crack. Always keep your contacts lubricated with saline solution or a rewetting solution. The contact solution can become contaminated if it is touched by your fingers or by other bottles. Carefully remove the cap and place it back on the bottle to avoid touching it to anything else.

Second, never wear your contacts for longer than recommended; leaving contacts in for too long can cause irritation and eye infection. Always wear sunglasses to aid your contacts in preventing harmful UV rays from entering the eyes. If this is your first time wearing contacts, read the directions on how to properly insert them into the eyes. Some people can insert the contacts backwards, causing irritation to the eye. The contact lens should form a cup and the edges should flare inward.

Third, never share your contacts with another person, or wear another person's contacts. Prescription contacts are designed specifically for each person's eye. Wearing another person's contacts may cause dizziness and headaches. Eye infections can easily be spread through another person's contacts.

Fourth, never sleep with your contact lenses unless told to do so by your eye doctor. The extended wear contact lens are safe to sleep with. Contacts are designed to be worn when they are exposed to oxygen. When you sleep, you are cutting off the amount of oxygen that can reach the eyes and produce tears, causing the contact lenses to become dry and stuck to your eyes. The best way to remove contact lenses is with some eye drops, because it will wet the eye and penetrate underneath the contact lens, allowing it to become un-glued from the eye.