Look closely at the above photo. That's me. See how bright blue my eyes are? Believe it or not, my eyes are naturally very dark brown. No, the pic was not photo shopped. I'm wearing blue contacts! I found them online!

Many people these days like the idea of being able to change their eye color at will. Why? Because we can! In addition to my blue contact lenses, I also have green lenses, aqua lenses, and turquoise lenses. I'm thinking about trying a pair of light gray next.

You can find all kinds of colors when it comes to contacts: light blue, baby blue, sapphire blue, emerald green, sea green, jade green, light gray, dark gray, violet, aqua blue, aqua, honey, hazel, and brown. There are also contacts that blend two or more colors in the same lens, along with dramatic contacts like cat eyes, stripes, whiteout, and zombie eyes for theatrical effects. And while you can't get a free trial pair from theatrical contact sites, they do have some amazing colors and even patterns for special effects.

I learned quickly that all colored contacts are not created equal. Some brands that call themselves opaque do not work well with brown eyes, even though the manufacturer might claim they do. There's nothing like buying a pair of colored contacts and getting all excited about trying them on and looking into the mirror, only to discover there's virtually no change in your eye color. How disappointing!

To avoid such an experience, try before you buy. Most eye doctors and vision centers sell contacts, and many will give you a pair of planos to take home with you for free to decide if you like them. "Plano" means they do not have a prescription - they are plain colored lenses. You will get a chance to see if they actually change your eye color, however, before plopping down the dough for a prescription pair.

Many online sites that sell contact lenses have free trial offers. Most limit the number of contacts you can "try out," but, of course, you could try several different companies, getting a different color from each until you fall in love with one. After choosing a brand and a color, you can then purchase the ones with an actual prescription.

Some online contacts sites even allow you to try different colors virtually. you can upload a photo of yourself and "try on" different shades to see which one looks best. On some other online contact lenses sites, you can select a model with your natural coloring and hair shade and "try" the different lens colors on her. This will give you an idea of what you'll look like with blue, green, gray, aqua, or violet eyes.

You'll need your prescription or your eye doctor's contact information to get the free trial pair, even though most of the time you'll receive a pair of planos. Most colored contact lenses come in only one diameter and curve, so you won't have a choice there.

Make sure you read the fine print concerning the free trial contacts. Don't commit to purchasing a pair of prescription lenses until you've tried out several different brands and colors. Make sure the contacts create the color change you're looking for and that the clarity is good. Also, make sure the contacts are comfortable on your eyes.

If you're "into" colored contact lenses, you'll have a blast shopping online for colored contacts. The possibilities are practically endless!