Contact Lenses

Cosmetic contact lenses can be divided into two categories. These are those who need corrective vision but prefer contact lenses for cosmetic reasons, and those who do not need corrective vision but desire to change the appearance of their eyes.

Lenses that chance the appearance of the eye can also be called "decorative contact lenses," though they sometimes also act to correct vision. It is also likely that they will slightly inhibit vision, even for those who are wearing lenses that are both corrective and decorative.

The most minor version is simply lenses intended to change the apparent eye color of the wearer. While this happens often enough to notice, only around three percent of all contact lenses sold in 2004 were of this type. This varies from subtle changes to the hue of an existing color, to create a more striking effect, to changing the color entirely, and even changing to a natural but very rare color like violet.

The theatrical effects of cosmetic contact lenses are more significant. Characters in movies, television and the theater occasionally need to appear demonically possessed, alien, mutated, scarred or blind in ways the audience can quickly see. Whether the need is to make a character appear to be under the influence of illegal drugs or to be a zombie, there are theatrical lenses for that purpose.

The list of actors who have used these theatrical lenses is extensive, ranging from Ian McDiarmid to Val Kilmer to Vin Diesel. Musicians such as Marilyn Manson and Emperor Magus Caligula also use the technique, and even wrestlers such as Kane or Rey Mysterio have used the lenses.

Scleral lenses cover the white portion of the eye, or sclera, as well as the more normal cornea and iris. These are uncomfortable, can only be worn a few hours and are difficult to insert. These can be used for more extensive effects, such as the entirely black eyes used occasionally on Lyta Alexander in Babylon 5.

Another use of these are in the more extreme forms of fandom, as some fans of the anime Naruto have used decorative lenses to replicate the eye effects common to some characters of that Japanese animated show. Similarly, there are decorative lenses to replicate the effects of cats eyes, Darth Maul from the Star Wars movies and others.

One advantage of decorative and cosmetic contact lenses is the ability to quickly trade looks as needed. It would be quite possible to attend a costume contest as a Thundercat and finish the evening at a dance in a club while wearing purple eyes.

Mirrored Contact Lens |