Health Canada Regulations
IMPORTANT - If you're considering getting colored contacts, even if you have perfect vision, you need to get an eye exam and a prescription from an eye-care professional in order to wear any kind of contact lens. Lenses that are not properly fitted may scratch the eye or cause blood vessels to grow into the cornea. There is no such thing as a "one size fits all" contact lens.
The Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO), the Opticians Association of Canada (OAC) and the Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) warn that vision loss, sometimes permanent, can result from improper use of cosmetic contact lenses. Starting July 2016 Health Canada announced regulatory changes that all lenses will be treated as medical devices. All contact lenses, worn for any purpose, require a valid contact lens prescription written by a qualified eye-care professional and cannot be sold to consumers without one.
Always ensure you are buying contact lenses, even if they are colored or special-effect contacts, from an authorized dealer. The quality of the material used to manufacture the lenses can be inferior. Please purchase wisely, be safe and have fun.
Safely Wear Colored Contacts
At Crescent Heights Optometry we will ensure your contacts are safe and comfortable and look natural on your eye. Our vision clinic also offers state-of-the-art colored contact lenses from industry-leading providers such as Air-Optix Colors and Freshlook Colorblends.
Color contacts come in both prescription and plano forms:
Prescription color contacts
will correct your myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) or astigmatism, as well as enhance or completely change your eye color.
Prescription color contacts
Are worn purely for cosmetic purposes to change your eye color and have no lens power for vision correction
Important Information
- Colored contact lenses are safe as long as your contacts are properly prescribed, used and cared for.
- Make sure to follow your eye doctors instructions on how long you can wear your contacts and when you should replace them.
- Your pupil size changes constantly depending on the light conditions. For instance, in low light conditions your pupil may be larger than the clear center of the colored contact lens, which may affect your vision slightly and possibly make it unsafe to drive or perform critical tasks safely.
Choosing the Right Colored Lenses
Visibility Tint
These lenses usually comes in a light blue or green tint, the colored lens is too light to affect the color of your eye but it will help you see the lens better during insertion, removal or if you drop it.
Enhancement Tint
These colored lenses have a solid but translucent (see-through) tint which comes a bit darker than a visibility tint. The tint will give the wearer's eye color a natural-looking enhancement. These contact lenses are usually best for people with lighter-colored eyes that want their blue eyes a deeper blue or hazel eyes a more vibrant green. These lenses will brighten your eyes with highlights and intensify the natural tones.
Opaque Tint
Have a non-transparent tint which can change eye color completely. These lenses have pattern overlays and will blend seamlessly with your iris for a natural-looking appearance. If you have dark colored eyes this is the type of contact lens you will need in order to change your eye color. If you are looking for a natural-looking change, try a lighter honey brown or hazel colored lens.
However, if you really want to stand out from the crowd, opt for contact lenses in vivid colors, such as blue, green or violet. And if your skin is dark a bright-colored lens can create a show-stopping new look.
Custom Tinted Contact Lenses
If you're after a truly individualized look, some contact lens manufacturers specialize in creating custom color tints for both prescription and non-prescription contact lenses.
Custom-made tints are created from a variety of colors in varying densities. Customized color lenses typically are semi-translucent, creating a natural-looking appearance. They can even camouflage a congenital eye defect or eye injury, or mimic the appearance of a healthy pupil.
Some of the Colors Available
Below are just some of the colors available through our industry leading contact providers. To find out more about getting colored contacts please schedule an appointment online or call us at (403) 460-4122.
