Smiley Face Eye Contacts? Top 99 Best Answers

Patients often ask us – are glasses or contact lenses better for your eyes? The choice is very personal and depends on your vision, needs, lifestyle and preferences.

Of course, you don’t always have to choose between glasses and contact lenses. Some people choose to do both depending on the situation or mood of the day. Many Vision plans offer either a pair of glasses or a year’s supply of contact lenses each year. Some people who wear both switch between the two or buy a smaller batch of lenses out of the bag.

Keep in mind that the information below is an educational starting point only. Since everyone’s eyesight is unique, it does not replace professional care. Instead, it’s a starting point so you’re better able to have an informed conversation with your optician.

Are glasses or contact lenses better for your eyes? – Here are a few things to consider

While most people can choose either option, there are a few things to consider before making your choice. There is no right or wrong answer to the question – are glasses or contacts better for your eyes? So much of it is a matter of personal choice and lifestyle.

First, how well do you follow instructions? Wearing contact lenses requires you to follow certain guidelines and hygiene routines to avoid discomfort or infection. Also, most lenses are disposable lenses that you need to replace every month or on some other prescribed schedule. Many people have different prescriptions for their right eye than their left eye. If this is true, you also need to consistently store each lens in the correct case and fit it on the correct eye.

Next, do your viewing needs require you to choose one or the other? Contact lenses have come a long way, historically people with certain medical conditions like astigmatism couldn’t wear them. In most cases this is no longer true. However, despite developments in contact lens technology, some people still find that one option offers better vision correction for their needs than the other.

Finally, how will you manage your UV protection? Contact lens wearers are usually required to wear sunglasses when driving or outdoors. After all, UV rays are the main cause of premature aging in the eyes. Also, people who use computers throughout the day may prefer blue light or anti-glare glasses. Of course, contact lens wearers could opt for non-prescription sunglasses and computer glasses if needed.

Now that we’ve discussed some general considerations, we’ll explore some of the pros and cons of wearing glasses or contact lenses. As already mentioned, this is not an absolute either/or decision. Some people choose to wear glasses at work but wear contact lenses when going out or on special occasions. Some alternate between the two each day according to their preferences. Check out the pros and cons of both to find the answer to the question – are glasses or contacts better for your eyes.

Pros and cons of glasses

Glasses are typically the cheapest, easiest, and most comfortable option for vision correction. Even if you do opt for contact lenses, you’ll probably want to wear simple glasses when you’re feeling tired or sick and prefer not to touch your eyes.

Benefits of opting for glasses

Ease of use: Glasses are the easiest option, you just put them on or take them off.

Fashion-Forward: If you like accessories, the style of your glasses also changes your look. With so many trendy options, some fashionistas choose to buy a pair of glasses to match their outfit and the occasion.

If you need blue light filtering or UV correction, you can opt for special lenses for extra protection.

Glasses can help protect your eyes in certain work and sports environments. For example, if you work in a laboratory or wood shop, we strongly recommend that you wear safety goggles while you work. If you play sports that involve flying balls or debris, like squash, sports goggles or goggles protect your eyes.

If you’re particularly sensitive to light, you may prefer photochromic lenses that adjust to the presence of UV or other light.

Disadvantages of wearing glasses

Depending on your vision, some people find that glasses distort their vision, especially around the edges of the frame.

Glasses tend to fog up or collect water droplets when it rains.

Some people just don’t like the way glasses look or feel.

Pros and cons for contacts

Contact lenses are available to more people than they used to be. Some consider them an attractive option for a variety of reasons.

Benefits of opting for contacts

For many people, vision correction through contact lenses feels more natural compared to glasses. Some contact lens wearers are particularly impressed with how contact lenses can improve their peripheral vision since the lenses sit directly on the eye.

Contact lenses are appearance neutral, which means they won’t change the way you look.

The contacts do not fog up or get wet from the rain.

Have you ever wished your eyes were a different color? With contact lenses, it’s easier to change your eye color than your hair color.

Disadvantages of wearing contact lenses

To put on and remove contact lenses, you need to be comfortable touching the eye. For some people, this is a deal breaker.

Good hygiene and cleanliness are essential when putting on, removing, cleaning and storing contact lenses. Failure to do so can result in blurred vision or even an eye infection.

Contact lenses cause dry eyes in some people. Appropriate eye drops help, but some find wearing them uncomfortable.

If you are a daily lap swimmer, you may find contact lenses less practical than glasses as you would need to remove them before swimming in a clean environment.

Discuss any questions or concerns with your eye doctor

We hope this blog post answers your question – are glasses or contacts better for your eyes? As you may now understand, the answer varies by person. The best way to decide is to have an open discussion with your eye doctor.

At Piedmont Eye Care, we encourage everyone to have a comprehensive eye exam annually or according to your prescribed schedule.

This is not only to keep your prescription up to date, but also to provide an early diagnosis of developing vision disorders such as glaucoma. Sometimes these conditions don’t initially show any noticeable symptoms, but early diagnosis helps preserve your vision and your health.

Contact us today if you live in Charlotte, NC and need to schedule an annual eye exam.

Also, you don’t have to touch your eyes. You can easily take off your glasses and put them on at any time.

You can choose from a variety of frames to suit your style. If your eyesight stays the same, you won’t need to change your glasses often.

Glasses are easy. You put them on and leave. They don’t need any special cleaning solutions and they don’t require a lot of maintenance.

Polycarbonate or Trivex lenses are great if you or a child play sports. Or if you have a condition that makes you see better in one eye, these can help protect your “good” eye. These safety glasses are less likely to shatter on impact.

Glasses used to be made of glass. Today most are made of plastic. Plastic lenses are lighter and can be treated with coatings to protect your eyes. But plastic is more likely to scratch than glass.

There are two types of glasses. Single vision glasses correct distance problems, and multifocal glasses help with distance and near vision problems like reading.

If you don’t have 20/20 vision but your eyes are otherwise healthy, you can choose between glasses and contact lenses to help you see. Both have positive and negative sides. Your choice really comes down to your lifestyle and personal preferences.

Glasses: Disadvantages They can distort vision, especially at the edge of the lens if you have strong eyesight or astigmatism. It can also be difficult to see in the far periphery or on the sides of your vision, depending on the frame you choose. Maybe you don’t like the weight of the glasses on your nose or the pressure on your ears. Some people don’t like the way they look with glasses on. Many people have trouble getting used to progressive lenses. The lenses can be fogged up and splashed in the rain. They may not be the best choice for sports or other activities.

Contact lenses Contact lenses are thin sheets of plastic or glass that sit directly on your eye to correct vision. There are two types – soft and hard, also called transmissive rigid glass. The most popular are soft contacts made of soft plastic. They are more comfortable than hard contact lenses because they hold more water and don’t sit directly on the cornea.

There are different types of soft contact lenses: Daily lenses: These are worn during the day and cleaned at night. You will replace them on a schedule suggested by your eye doctor. Disposables: You only wear them once and throw them away. Long-term lenses: you can wear them overnight. Take them out for cleaning at least once a week. Hard contacts are more durable than soft ones. They are easier to care for but can be less comfortable. They often provide better vision for conditions like astigmatism (when your eye is more oval than round) and can be a good choice if you have allergies. There are also bifocal and multifocal contact lenses in both soft and hard lenses. They simultaneously correct near and far vision.

Contact lenses: advantages They give you a more natural vision than glasses. You move with your eye and nothing blocks what you see. They won’t fog up or get wet when it’s cold or rainy. Contact lenses do not interfere with sports.

What determines a baby’s eye color?

In general, children inherit their eye color from their parents, which is a combination of mom’s and dad’s eye colors. A baby’s eye color is determined by the parents’ eye color and whether the parents’ genes are dominant or recessive.

Blue-eyed vs. brown-eyed

Although uncommon, it is possible for blue-eyed parents to have a brown-eyed child. Brown and maybe green are considered dominant, but even two shades of brown can make a blue-eyed baby as there are no absolute 100 percent definite rules, so you can only go with one percent.

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In general, if you both have brown eyes, there is a 25% chance the baby will have blue eyes if you both carry the recessive gene for blue eyes. But if only one of you has a recessive gene for blue eyes and the other has two brown dominant genes, then there is less than a 1% chance that the baby will have blue eyes.

Each person carries two copies of each gene, one inherited from mom and one copy inherited from dad. Homozygous means the two copies match (e.g. maybe both copies are for brown eyes). If someone is heterozygous, it means that the two copies of the gene are different (e.g. one for brown and one for non-brown). It is usually impossible to tell if a person is heterozygous or homozygous by looking at their eye color.

How do genes work together?

Keep in mind that eye color inheritance is not entirely straightforward as it is polygenic, meaning that the trait is not influenced by one gene, but by multiple genes working together. Even looking at the most obvious gene – the one with the greatest control over brown compared to all other eye colors – there are still a few things to consider.

— the color of the eyes of the parents

— whether the parents are homozygous or heterozygous for that color

– if the eye color of the parents is dominant or recessive

What is gene dominance?

A dominance of one copy of the gene over the other means that the dominant copy has an effect that you can see, in this case you can see that the person has brown eyes. Brown (and sometimes green) is considered dominant. So a person with brown eyes can carry both a brown and non-brown version of the gene, and either copy can be passed on to their children.

Two brown-eyed parents (if both are heterozygous) can have a blue-eyed baby. By these rules, it seems that two blue-eyed parents cannot have a brown-eyed baby because blue-eyed people are homozygous. However, because eye color is polygenic, several other genes also have an effect. So yes, while it’s uncommon, it’s entirely possible for blue-eyed parents to have a brown-eyed child!

Continue reading:

Gender Prediction Test: Boy or Girl?

How to conceive a boy or girl

Yes, blue-eyed parents can definitely have a brown-eyed child. Or green or hazel eyes.

If you stayed awake during high school biology, this answer might surprise you. We’ve all been taught that blue-eyed parents have blue-eyed children. every time

This has to do with blue eyes being said to be recessive to brown eyes. This means if one parent has a gene for brown eyes, then that parent will also have brown eyes. This makes it impossible for two blue-eyed parents to have a brown-eyed child – they don’t have a brown-eyed gene to pass on!

In fact, this is the model we used for our eye color calculator* and which we talk about at length here at Ask a Geneticist.

Blue-eyed parents can have children with brown eyes. (Image via Shutterstock)

Now we are not being dishonest or trying to hide anything by presenting this model. It works great most of the time. But as with anything genetic, there are always exceptions.

For example, DNA can and does change between generations. So if there was a change that turned a gene for blue eye color into brown, then blue-eyed parents could have a brown-eyed child.

As you can imagine, this is pretty rare. Too rare to explain all the exceptions we see with eye color. So something else has to happen. That something is most likely other genes involved in eye color that we don’t know about.

And you thought a two-gen model was complicated…

Eye color used to be presented as a fairly simple trait. A big part of the model was the idea that we had an eye color gene that came in two variants – brown and blue. Geneticists represented the brown version as “B” and the blue version as “b”.

The model also said that blue (b) is recessive towards brown (B). This is important because it is an explanation of how brown-eyed parents can have a blue-eyed child.

You see, we have two copies of each of our genes – one from each biological parent. This means that there are three possible combinations for this eye color gene: BB, Bb, and bb.

BB is naturally brown and in this model bb would be blue. Because blue is recessive to brown, Bb people have brown eyes. But they can pass a “b” on to their children, who might end up with blue eyes.

Now, eye color is obviously more complicated than that. This model, for example, does not explain green eyes. Scientists added a second gene to try to explain green eyes, but we don’t need to go into that here (click here to learn more about the two-gene model).

All we need to know is that on this extended model, if you have a B, you have brown eyes no matter what that green eye gene says. So if this were the case, we would expect the following possibilities:

Gene What it means BB Brown eyes Bb Brown eyes bb No brown eyes

Again, bb people shouldn’t be able to pass brown eyes on to their kids. But we know they can. This means that this model is incomplete (or incorrect).

The results I just entered in the previous table are theoretical and based on the model I was talking about. Here are some actual results I pulled from 23andMe’s website:

Genes Importance in Europeans BB 85% chance of brown eyes

14% chance of green eyes

1% chance of blue eyes Bb 56% chance of brown eyes

37% chance of green eyes

7% chance of blue eyes bb 1% chance of brown eyes

27% chance of green eyes

72% chance of blue eyes

As you can see, the original model holds up pretty well for BB and BB people. Most BB people have brown eyes and most BB people don’t. But the model clearly does not explain the following:

1% of BB people have brown eyes 1% of BB people have blue eyes (and 14% have green eyes) 44% of Bb people do not have brown eyes

The greatest separation is with Bb people. Only 56% have brown eyes. If this continues, I’m not sure we can even call blue and green recessive to brown. Whatever the reason, this data offers some clues as to how two blue-eyed parents might have a brown-eyed child.

For example, imagine two parents are Bb and have blue eyes. They each pass a B on to one of their children. This kid will be BB and will most likely have brown eyes.

This example uses known data to show how blue-eyed parents might have a brown-eyed child. But it doesn’t explain why a Bb person has blue eyes in the first place.

To do this, we need to guess what other genes might be doing. And how they might affect the original gene for eye color.

Going into detail about these possibilities would take up more space than I have here! And in the end, the truth is that eye color is a complex trait that we don’t fully understand yet.

*Editor’s note (7/27/21): The eye color calculator is no longer available.

Before the phrase “baby blues” referred to postpartum sadness (which isn’t the same as postpartum depression), it was actually a common synonym for “eyes.” Why? Well, because all babies are born with blue eyes, right? Not correct. Treat your baby blues to this fun fact: Globally, more newborns have brown eyes than blue eyes. And while it’s true that many babies start out with blue or gray eyes, it’s important to know that eye color can change months after birth. And there are also many toddlers who look at their new surroundings with hazel and brown eyes. In fact, a 2016 Stanford University study of 192 newborns found that nearly two-thirds of them were born with brown eyes, while only about 1 in 5 babies were born with blue eyes. However, the Stanford researchers also found that the majority of the babies in the study who were born with blue eyes were Caucasian. Those of other ethnic groups, including Asians and Hispanics, were more likely to be born with brown eyes.

The Science of Eye Color The term “eye color” refers to the color of the iris, the ring around the pupil, which is black. The white part of the eye is called the sclera. If your baby was jaundiced at birth – don’t worry, it’s not uncommon – the sclera may have been a little yellowish. What gives an iris its color is a natural pigment called melanin, a protein secreted by special cells called melanocytes. Blue eyes mean the iris is low in melanin. Melanocytes are sensitive to light, and since your newborn has spent the past few months in complete darkness, there hasn’t been much light to trigger melanin production in the iris. (Remember, though, that ethnicity also plays a role—so some babies produce more melanin than others. More on that in a moment.) If your child’s melanocytes don’t secrete much more melanin in the months and years to come, then his will eyes do stay blue. When a little more melanin gets into the iris, their eyes look green or hazel. Much more melanin means brown eyes. But for many babies in the womb — especially many babies of non-Caucasian descent, although this can be true of any ethnicity — melanocytes don’t need daylight to pump melanin into the developing iris. These are the brown eyes that greet so many smiling parents. Layers of color The iris has three layers, and people with brown eyes have melanin in all three. A blue-eyed person has only brown pigment in the back layer. When light enters the eye, most of the light is absorbed in the back layer, while particles in the spongy middle layer (stroma) scatter the remaining light and reflect it back out of the eye. Most of the stray light that comes out is blue light, which gives blue eyes their color. It’s the same dynamic that makes water appear blue in an ocean. These influential melanocytes also work hard in hair and skin, giving them their color as well. More melanin in your system means a darker complexion. This explains why people with dark skin also have darker eyes. But there are always exceptions. Acclaimed African-American actor James Earl Jones, for example, has blue eyes, likely a result of his ancestors of European descent having blue eyes. And speaking of ancestors, let’s take a look at what goes into determining your baby’s final eye color.

Predicting Final Eye Color (Spoilers: You Can’t) Your baby’s first eye color may be permanent. But don’t get too attached to it. Eye color often changes in the first year or even longer. That means your blue-eyed newborn may have brown eyes when they take their first steps. There is no way of knowing when the final color will be set. And you can’t predict the exact color any easier than a Magic 8 Ball. But if you’re looking for clues, and it is possible, stand with your baby’s other parent and look in the mirror together. While melanin technically gives eyes their color, it’s the eye colors of a baby’s parents — and to some extent your great-great-great-uncle and great-grandmother and all the others in your big family tree — that help tell the crowd of melanin that is secreted. The genetics are a bit complicated. But to put it simply, two blue-eyed parents, for example, are more likely to have a blue-eyed baby. But there are no guarantees. Likewise, parents with brown eyes will usually produce a brown-eyed child, but not always. A grandparent’s eye color can change the odds a bit. While it was once believed that a brown-eyed parent could not produce a blue-eyed child, it can – and does! – happen, thanks to several genes at work.

Blue, Brown or Green: All are Beautiful Check out some of these eye color statistics: Brown is the most common eye color in the world. Blue eyes are a relatively new phenomenon. Researchers traced blue eyes to a single genetic mutation that occurred 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. Although estimates vary, fewer than 200,000 people in the United States have a rare condition known as complete heterochromia, or heterochromia iridis, in which one eye is a completely different color than the other eye. If you or your baby have this unique trait, you’re in good company—actresses Alice Eve and Mila Kunis have them, too. Also rare is a condition called Waardenburg syndrome, which affects 1 in 40,000 people. People with this condition often have differently colored eyes, and other symptoms include hearing loss and white patches on the hair and skin. Although this syndrome is fairly unlikely, talk to your doctor if your baby is born with very light blue eyes or one blue eye and one brown eye.

We consider many factors when selecting potential dating partners, and with dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge, first impressions are crucial.

One of those impressions comes in the form of eye color. Eyes are said to be the windows to the soul and a connection, when you make eye contact, can be the spark that leads to a long romance.

“Oxytocin can also be released from staring into someone else’s eyes, which helps us connect with others and feel loved and safe,” says Ness Cooper, a sex and relationship coach at www.thesexconsultant.com.

But what are the most attractive eye colors? Lenstore researched these major dating apps to find out which eyes draw the most attention from potential partners.

A male and a female subject were used in multiple sample images provided by each person to create their online dating profile. Their eye colors were then modified between tests in image editing software to see how many “matches” they could get with the same images and bios in the apps.

Blue is the most attractive eye color in men

For men, blue eyes stood out as the clear winner, with overall eye color matches accounting for 27% of all results – while the second most popular version of the images, brown, scored just 22%.

Looking deeper into the psychology behind eye color, Ness Cooper says, “If you prefer blue eyes, for example, it may be because you had nothing but good past experiences as a child, where happier feelings and positive hormones were released, because you felt safe with that person, and your memory can remember those moments when you were looking for a future partner or date.

The least popular eye color was purple, a color not possible in natural eyes and only achieved by wearing colored contact lenses, accounting for only 8% of all matches.

Eye Color Overall Matches with Males – % Blue 47 27.17% Brown 38 21.97% Green 29 16.76% Hazel 26 15.03% Black 19 10.98% Purple 14 8.09% Total 173 100%

Hazel is the most attractive eye color in women

For women, the results were slightly less pronounced. While hazel was the most popular eye color to get a like, it beat purple eyes — which of course you can’t — by just a single match.

Only green eyes seemed to suffer at all, with only 11% of matches being achieved. Blue and brown, the most popular among men, tended towards the bottom middle of the list, with brown eyes – the most common in the world – receiving only 13% of all matches.

Eye Color Overall Matches with Females – % Hazel 65 20.19% Purple 64 19.88% Black 57 17.70% Blue 56 17.39% Brown 43 13.35% Green 37 11.49% Total 322 100%

The psychology behind eye color and prevalence around the world

It is clear that our preference for eye color in partners has psychological reasons. Speaking to Ness Cooper, she says: “Some previous studies have shown that we are attracted to people with similar physical characteristics to our parents or even ourselves. This may include preferring a similar eye color.”

“While research on this is still limited, it may be that we like similar eye colors to the caregivers we had when we were younger because of the bond created by hormonal releases when we’re little, rather than a direct connection.” to genetic family and eye preference.”

The most common eye color in the world, covering between 55 and 79 percent of people, is brown, while green is the rarest at just 2 percent. Blue is second most common at 8-10%, with hazel (a combination of brown and green) at 5% and amber (closer to orange or gold) at 5%.

Dark brown eyes tend to be more common in Africa and East and Southeast Asia, while light brown eyes are most common in West Asia, America, and Europe.

Blue eyes are more common in Europe and are due to a genetic mutation that causes the eye to produce less melanin – all blue-eyed people share a common ancestor from around 10,000 years ago.

Green eyes are primarily found in Europe, with 16 percent of green-eyed people being of Celtic or Germanic descent.

Hazel eyes can be found all over the world, especially in Europe and the United States.

What eye color are you most compatible with?

If you want to experiment with different eye colors, take a look at our range of colored contact lenses. With a wide range of colors to either enhance or completely change your natural eye color, you’re sure to find the perfect shades for you.

methodology

The experiment was conducted from September 16 to 22, 2021 with two subjects. Their eye colors were digitally modified, while their names, biographies and all other aspects of their photos remained the same between tests. Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge were all used, with the final count being the total number of games played across all three.

Eye color percentages worldwide: https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/eye-color-percentages#takeaway

About Lensore:

Lenstore has been changing the way consumers buy contact lenses since 2008 by making contact lenses fast, lint-free and affordable.

We offer the big brand lenses that our customers want at great prices, delivered to their doorstep. But our service doesn’t end there, our team of opticians and eye care experts are on hand to help you get the most out of your vision. Be it help finding the right contact lenses, tips on proper contact lens hygiene or even tips on how to treat hay fever. And we offer all our customers free eye tests and contact lens tests.

Lenstore is here to help you manage your eye health in the way that suits you.

media contacts

Marina Plummer

EYE COLOR US POPULATION WORLD POPULATION Gray and Other Less than 1% Less than 1% Green 9% 2% Hazel/Amber 18% 10% Blue 27% 8% to 10% Brown 45% 55% to 79%

There is not much information about gray eyes. Studies have historically combined gray and blue.

This is subject to change as the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) has placed gray in an “other” category that it shares with rare eye color differences discussed later in this article.

What determines eye color?

Eye color is affected by the production of melanin, or pigment, in the iris – the colored part of your eye. More melanin means darker eyes, less means lighter eyes.

People in countries farther from the equator tend to have lighter eyes and skin. Darker eyes and darker skin are common in warmer places closer to the equator. All of this depends on genetics, of course.

Eye color genetics

Scientists used to think that eye color inheritance was a simple question of whether the genes present were dominant (expressed whenever present) or recessive (expressed only when they matched the same gene).

In other words, a brown eye color (considered dominant) would be expected in a child even if only one parent had brown eyes. Blue eye color (considered recessive) would only be expected in a child born to two blue-eyed parents.

However, recent discoveries have shown that the genetics of eye color are more complex. For example, two people with brown eyes can have a child with lighter eyes.

Most eye color genes are involved in the transport, production and storage of melanin. More melanin in the iris makes for brown eyes, while less of it can mean blue, hazel, green, or gray eyes.

The amount of melanin present in the front of the iris, the back of the iris, and in the stromal layer in between also plays a role.

Several genes influence these variables, and much about them is not yet understood.

Other differences in eye color

Abnormal eye color or appearance is rare and falls into the “other” gray-eyed category.

heterochromia

People with heterochromia have different colored eyes. Some people are born that way. Often there is no known reason for this, but it can be caused by conditions such as:

Piebaldism: Lack of pigment-producing cells in patches of hair, skin, and in some cases one eye

Deficiency of pigment-producing cells in patches of hair, skin, and in some cases Horner’s syndrome in one eye: A rare condition characterized by drooping eyelids, small pupils, absent facial sweat, and sometimes heterochromia

Getty Images/Whitney Lewis Photography

You can also develop heterochromia later in life. It can occur due to:

injury

eye surgery

Medications, including some glaucoma medications

disease, including glaucoma and diabetes

Heterochromia itself does not require treatment. However, if it is caused by an underlying medical condition, you should receive appropriate treatment for that condition.

anisocoria

Anisocoria is when someone has two different pupil sizes. The larger the pupil, the more black there is in the center of the eye. This is not an eye color, but it can make someone look like they have heterochromia.

Anisocoria is usually harmless but can be a symptom of some serious eye problems. This can include:

problems with the nervous system

Previous eye damage

High risk of stroke

viral infection

A condition called Adie’s tonic pupil, in which one pupil does not respond well to light

If you have anisocoria along with certain other symptoms, you should see an ophthalmologist. Look out for symptoms like:

drooping eyelids

difficulty moving your eye

pain in your eye

Fever

headache

Reduced sweating

Anisocoria itself does not need treatment, but an underlying condition may need treatment.

Albino Eyes: Red, Pink, Violet

Albinism is low levels of melanin in the skin, hair, and eyes. In some people, it only affects the eyes. This is called eye albinism.

People with albinism may have lighter versions of the standard eye color. But they can also have eyes that appear:

Red

pink

violet

However, the iris actually has no red, pink, or purple pigment. These colors are caused by visible blood vessels in the back of the eye. In other people, the color of the iris blocks the view of these blood vessels.

People with albinism often have serious vision problems. That’s because melanin helps the eye develop normally before birth.

eye color and your health

Having a rare eye color or appearance can appear special and distinctive. It can go beyond looks, however, as eye color (or color) can be associated with certain health benefits or concerns.

A 2014 study concluded that women with light-colored eyes were better able to tolerate pain during pregnancy than those with darker eyes. The sample size for this study was relatively small at just 58 women, but another small study had similar results.

A 2015 review suggests that people with darker eyes may have a lower risk of hearing loss that isn’t related to age.

However, research from 2011 suggests a link between blue eyes and type 1 diabetes. However, this work has not been replicated.

A lighter eye color is also associated with an increased risk of macular degeneration, which causes a loss of median vision, and ocular melanoma (cancer in or around the eye).

But that is all preliminary work. Further research is needed to confirm such connections and associations.

Eye color and changes with age

Their eye color may change in adulthood and take on a more rare appearance. Sometimes it’s nothing to worry about. In other cases, it is due to illness, medication, or injury and may need treatment.

If you don’t have gray eyes but they seem to be getting grayer over time, it may be due to cataracts. This is a clouding of the lens of the eye. Cataracts can affect your vision and may need to be surgically removed. Tell your eye doctor if your eyes appear gray or milky.

Brown freckles can develop in your iris over time, usually due to sun exposure. Most of them are harmless, but sometimes they can be cancerous, so alert your doctor if they occur.

Conditions like Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis can lighten your eye color and cause serious vision problems. Fuchs involves inflammation in some of the structures at the front of your eye. It can cause:

Loss of pigment in your eye that changes color

Atrophy (wasting) of the iris

Cataract

Glaucoma, which can cause vision loss

It may seem funny or exciting when your eyes change color. However, due to the potential for serious vision problems, you should be evaluated by a health care provider.

Change your eye color

If you want to change your eye color temporarily or even permanently, you have several options.

Colored contact lenses are the easiest option. You can add color to the lenses you wear to correct your vision.

If you don’t need prescription lenses, you can order prescription lenses that are for optics only. However, you should still see an eye doctor and get a prescription for it. The AAO recommends never buying over-the-counter contact lenses due to the increased risk of eye infections.

It is also possible to have surgery to change the color of your eyes. In this procedure, your natural iris is replaced with an artificial iris prosthesis. However, the AAO warns against this type of operation. It can have serious side effects, including blindness and blurred vision.

A word from Verywell

Eye color is a big part of appearance. Whether it has additional health effects is still a matter of debate.

But if your eyes are gray or green, or if you have heterochromia, anisocoria, or albinism, it’s safe to say your eyes are rare.

Best Selling Colored Contact Lenses | AIR OPTIX COLORS | expressions colors | FreshLook COLOR MIXES | FreshLook Colors | Frequently Asked Questions | Wrap up

Do you want to get colored contact lenses to enhance your looks but not sure where to start? We’ve put together a comprehensive guide based on Lens.com sales data to highlight the best so far colored contact lenses of 2022 (including the back half of last year) for North America.

This guide lists the four best-selling colored contact lenses along with their key features and benefits so you can choose the best one based on your lifestyle and prescription from your eye care professional (ECP).

Colored contact lenses are designed to subtly enhance or completely change your natural eye color. They allow you to upgrade your everyday look or try a different one if you’re looking for a dramatic, eye-catching new look.

There are many colored contact lenses on the market, but we’ve only listed the top four selling colored contact lenses of 2021 and 2022 (so far) on Lens.com. If you know next to nothing about colored contact lenses and their features or benefits, this list is as good a place to start as any. Compared to last year’s ranking, there were no major changes in position in this year’s ranking, with AIR OPTIX COLORS still taking first place in the popularity scale. As a bonus, we have also compiled a ranking of the five best selling colors from AIR OPTIX COLORS.

Note that we have added oxygen permeability values ​​(expressed in Dk/t) for each brand of colored contact lenses for reference. In general, the higher the oxygen transmission rate of a contact lens, the better it is. However, this is not always the case as everyone’s situation is different. Only your ECP can determine the best colored contact lens for your needs based on other key factors including water content, lens material and brand.

Rank BONUS: AIR OPTIX COLORS – Most Popular Colors by Sales, 2022 1 Gray 2 Pure Hazel 3 Green 4 Honey

1) AIR OPTIX® COLOURS

AIR OPTIX COLORS are single-use monthly disposable lenses designed to enhance the natural beauty of your eyes while keeping your eyes comfortable all day long.

Air Optix Colors are available in nine eye-catching colors: Blue, Brilliant Blue, Sterling Gray, Gem Green, Green, Gray, Hazelnut, Honey and Brown.

material

– Lotrafilcon B (67% polymer)

– Lotrafilcon B (67% polymer) manufacturer

– Alcon

– Alcon water content

– 33%

– 33% oxygen permeability

– 138 Dk/t

– 138 Dk/t properties

– 3-in-1 color technology

– SmartShield® technology

– Available in 9 stunning colors

– Can be prescribed with or without vision correction

– Designed to sit comfortably on the eye

– Highly breathable

– 3-in-1 color technology – SmartShield® technology – Available in 9 stunning colors – Can be prescribed with or without vision correction – Designed to fit the eye comfortably – Highly breathable lenses per pack

– 6 lenses per box

2) Expressions® colors

Expressions Colors are monthly lenses designed to make your eyes feel as good as they look. Manufactured by CooperVision, a trusted name in the eye care industry, these contact lenses use advanced tinting technology to make your eyes look incredibly realistic and vibrant.

Expressions Colors come in eight eye-enhancing shades: Topaz, Brown, Green, Hazel, Aqua, Blue, Gray and Jade.

material

– Methafilcone A (45% polymer)

– Methafilcon A (45% polymer) manufacturer

– CooperVision

– CooperVision water content

– 55%

– 55% oxygen permeability

– 21 Dk/t

– 21 Dk/t properties

– Advanced tinting technology

– Available in 8 bright shades

– Can be prescribed with or without vision correction

– Designed to sit comfortably on the eye

– Breathable

– Advanced tinting technology – Available in 8 vibrant shades – Can be prescribed with or without vision correction – Designed to fit the eye comfortably – Breathable lenses per pack

– 6 lenses per box

3) FreshLook COLOR MIXES

FreshLook COLORBLENDS are the first to mix three colors in one jar for a subtle and natural look. They are available in 12 unique colors: grey, sterling grey, blue, brilliant blue, green, gem green, pure hazel, honey, brown, real sapphire, amethyst and turquoise.

FreshLook COLORBLENDS are the first to mix three colors in one jar for a subtle and natural look. They are available in 12 unique colors: grey, sterling grey, blue, brilliant blue, green, gem green, pure hazel, honey, brown, real sapphire, amethyst and turquoise.

FreshLook COLORBLENDS are bi-weekly contact lenses that need to be replaced every two weeks. They still need to be removed and cleaned every night.

material

– Phemfilcone A (45% polymer)

– Phemfilcon A (45% polymer) manufacturer

– Alcon

– Alcon water content

– 55%

– 55% oxygen permeability

– 20 Dk/t

– 20 Dk/t properties

– 3-in-1 color technology

– Available in 12 beautiful colors

– Can be prescribed with or without vision correction

– Designed to sit comfortably on the eye

– Breathable

– 3-in-1 color technology – Available in 12 beautiful colors – Can be prescribed with or without vision correction – Designed to fit the eye comfortably – Breathable lenses per pack

– 2 lenses per box

4) FreshLook colors

FreshLook Colors are designed to make your eyes appear brighter without completely changing their natural color. Choose from four subtle yet stunning colors to spice up your everyday look: purple, green, blue and hazelnut.

material

– Phemfilcone A (45% polymer)

– Phemfilcon A (45% polymer) manufacturer

– Alcon

– Alcon water content

– 55%

– 55% oxygen permeability

– 20 Dk/t

– 20 Dk/t properties

– 3-in-1 iris pattern

– Available in 4 eye-catching shades

– Can be prescribed with or without vision correction

– Designed to sit comfortably on the eye

– Breathable

– 3-in-1 iris pattern – Available in 4 eye-catching shades – Can be prescribed with or without vision correction – Designed to fit the eye comfortably – Breathable lenses per pack

– 6 lenses per box

Frequently asked questions about colored contact lenses

Are colored contact lenses safe to wear?

Yes, it is safe to wear FDA-approved colored contact lenses that are prescribed to you and fitted by your ECP. Colored contact lenses are just as safe as regular contact lenses as long as they are properly handled and cleaned.

How long can I wear colored contact lenses?

How long you can wear colored contacts varies by brand. Some colored contact lenses can only be worn for one day, while others can be worn daily for two to four weeks before needing to be replaced. If in doubt, follow the wearing plan recommended by your ECP.

How much do colored contact lenses cost?

Most colored contact lenses have an online advertised retail price of between $65 and $95 per box (per eye), with each box lasting three months. At Lens.com, you can get discount colored contact lenses at much lower prices. Note that taxes and fees vary by seller and can change over time.

Can I wear colored contact lenses after LASIK?

You can wear colored contact lenses after LASIK only after your eyes have fully healed. Most LASIK surgeons recommend waiting two to six months after LASIK before wearing contact lenses. Consult your ECP or LASIK surgeon for further instructions.

Can I get colored contact lenses with astigmatism?

Yes, you can get colored contact lenses with astigmatism. However, there are limited options. CooperVision’s Avaira Vitality Toric is available on Lens.com as an option for astigmatism colored contact lenses. For your next fitting, ask your doctor if you can consider regular colored contact lenses if the degree of correction required is not too high.

Can I wear colored contact lenses every day?

Yes, you can wear colored contacts every day if you prefer, as long as you wear lenses that have been correctly prescribed and you strictly follow your ECP recommended wearing schedule. However, it would be best to give your eyes a break from contact lens wear every few days to allow for better oxygen flow.

Where can I get colored contact lenses?

Colored contact lenses are available online by prescription at Lens.com.

Wrap up

Colored contact lenses come in a few varieties. There are those that only subtly enhance your eye color and those that completely change your natural eye color. FreshLook Colors belong to the first group, while Expressions Colors, FreshLook COLORBLENDS and AIR OPTIX COLORS belong to the second group.

If this is your first time trying colored contact lenses, use this list as a guide and contact your ECP for more information. Be sure to only use colored contact lenses that are FDA approved. Rest assured that all of the colored contact lenses listed above are FDA cleared and currently available on Lens.com.

Dry eyes and contact lenses

Dry eye syndrome causes your eyes to feel dry, gritty, burning, red, and irritated. Dry eye syndrome can also cause blurred vision. Often these symptoms can sometimes be made worse by the use of contact lenses. In fact, many people who don’t typically suffer from chronic dry eyes will experience some of these symptoms as a result of wearing contact lenses.

If you have chronic dry eyes, you should first see your eye doctor for treatment and relief before considering contact lenses. Once your dry eyes are treated, it’s safe to try contact lenses and there are a number of options to consider.

Many brands of soft contact lenses and products such as disinfectant and cleaning solutions are made with ingredients designed to be more comfortable for people with dry eyes. Your eye doctor can recommend some of these brands and products. Alternatively, gas permeable (GP) or rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses are made from a hard material that in some cases does not dry out like soft lenses and is able to retain some amount of moisture under the lens to keep the eye in front the drying out. Gas permeable lenses are a very good option and can be very comfortable for those with dry eyes.

In addition, your doctor may recommend a specific wearing schedule, e.g. For example, limiting the amount of time you wear your contact lenses throughout the day or replacing your contact lenses more frequently.

Toric lenses for astigmatism

Astigmatism is a condition that causes blurred vision (double vision in some cases) because the front of the eye (the cornea) is not round but has two curvatures instead of one and therefore two foci instead of one. This makes fitting traditional contact lenses difficult and therefore requires special contact lenses such as toric lenses or rigid gas permeable lenses (RGPs).

Toric contact lenses are designed to correct astigmatism and are custom fitted to the patient’s eye. Most are made of soft material designed to stay in place on the eye, but in some cases when the lens cannot stop rotating (due to blinking and eye movement), gas-permeable lenses can be tried . Because of the fitting and more complicated fitting process required for these lenses, they are more expensive and take more time to manufacture in the contact lens lab than traditional lenses.

Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC) and contact lenses

GPC is a type of conjunctivitis in which the inner surface of the eyelid swells. The condition can be caused or worsened by a buildup of protein deposits on contact lenses. Your eye doctor may recommend either daily lenses or RGP lenses (which are not water based) and are therefore not prone to protein build-up. Your doctor may also prescribe medicated eye drops and ask you to stop using contact lenses until symptoms improve.

July 14, 2015 1:00 am

Author: Hillary Brown

We’ve all done it. It’s too cumbersome to take them out beforehand, and who wants to look like a total noob wearing goggles all the time in the pool?

Well, we spoke to optometrist Timothy Gibbons, OD, at the University of Utah Health, and he gave us a few reasons why these noobs might be onto something:

1. Swimming with contact lenses can cause eye infections, irritation and potentially vision-damaging conditions such as corneal ulcers.

2. The FDA has recommended NOT exposing contacts to ANY type of water, including tap water, swimming pools, oceans, lakes, hot tubs, and showers.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s freshwater or a chlorinated pool,” Gibbons said. “There are insects and pathogens that chlorine doesn’t kill that could potentially cause damage to the cornea, infection or ulcers.”

3. Water is home to all manner of viruses and microbes – one of the scariest is Acanthamoeba, which attaches itself to your contact, causing your cornea to become infected and inflamed and can lead to permanent vision loss or require a cornea transplant.

4. Fresh water and swimming pool water can cause soft lenses to press against your eye and cause significant irritation.

5. Soft lenses are porous, which allows chemicals and bacteria to get trapped in the lens and press against your eye, increasing the chance of infection and irritation.

According to Gibbons, patients who have to wear contact lenses while swimming need to take certain measures that drastically reduce the risk of infection.

“I tell all my patients to avoid wearing contact lenses while swimming,” Gibbons said. “But if that’s not an option, always wear safety goggles, remove contact lenses immediately after swimming, and soak them in contact solution for 24 hours.”

Switch between pairs of contact lenses or wear glasses while your contact lenses soak to protect your eyes. Complete disinfection of the lenses eliminates the risk of exposing your eyes to bacteria that could easily be absorbed by the lenses.

On your next pool day, make sure you’re not careless with your eyes—you kind of need them.

Countless people around the world wear disposable or daily contact lenses. These popular disposable lenses are removed and discarded at the end of each day, and a new, fresh pair is fitted the next morning. When used correctly, daily lenses promote eye health and are convenient and practical.

Despite the many benefits associated with wearing daily contact lenses, here are some tips to keep your eyes and vision healthy.

1. Do not touch contacts with dirty hands

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching your contact lenses. By touching your contact lenses with dirty hands, you transfer bacteria to your lenses, which can lead to infection. Dry your hands preferably with a disposable paper towel rather than a cloth towel and be careful not to leave any remnants of the towel on your fingers.

2. Do not expose your contact lenses to water

Any water source, whether it’s tap, pool or lake water, can change the shape of your lenses and cause micro abrasions on your cornea. Also, the water can contain bacteria that can wreak havoc on your eye health, causing temporary vision loss or even permanent blindness.

If you have to go in the water with your contact lenses, be sure to wear waterproof goggles. If you get water on your contact lenses, throw those lenses away and put in a new pair. When contact lenses are exposed to chemicals like chlorine, they bind to the lens and cannot be removed. It then seeps onto the cornea, causing irritation.

3. Don’t reuse your contacts

Daily lenses are designed to be thrown away after each and every use, and people who reuse them risk painful and risky results. Dailies are thinner, more fragile, and don’t retain moisture as well as other contact lenses.

Users sometimes try to prolong the life of these lenses by cleaning them in a disinfectant solution and wearing them for several days or even weeks at a time. This is problematic because the lens material does not allow repeated disinfection. In fact, cleaning the lenses tends not only to be ineffective, but also destroys the lens itself, increasing the risk of it falling apart while in the eye. The risk of complications and infections is not worth the few bucks saved.

4. Do not insert dropped contact into your eye

One of the advantages of daily lenses is that they are cheaper (per lens) than other types of contact lenses. So if you drop a lens in the sink or on the floor, don’t bother putting it back in your eye. This can cost you your eye health.

5. Never put contact lenses in your mouth

It seems like a fun concept doesn’t it? You wouldn’t believe how many people do this. If you drop a contact lens, avoid digging around on the floor to find it, and if you do, be sure not to put it in your mouth to lubricate it. Your mouth contains bacteria that can infect your eyes once you put your contact lenses back in.

Stay safe by carrying emergency goggles or an extra pair of daily contact lenses in your pocket, car or at work.

6. Don’t carry over your daily lenses

Wearing your lenses for a long time can damage your eyes, even if they are daily contact lenses. The maximum recommended daily length for all contact lenses is 14-16 hours, although your optometrist will determine the exact number of hours you should wear your lenses. Your eyes, like every other part of your body, need rest. Your corneas get oxygen from the air, not blood vessels, and while it’s healthy to wear contact lenses during the day, wearing them for long periods of time can significantly reduce the amount of oxygen your eyes receive, which can lead to complications. If you don’t give your eyes the rest they need, your cornea can become swollen, which can lead to corneal abrasions and even bacterial infections.

7. Don’t sleep with your lenses on

Daily lenses should never be worn overnight. You are risking your vision if you sleep with a lens that is not approved for overnight use as it can cause eye irritation, swelling and corneal ulcers.

8. Don’t add contacts until you’ve completed your morning routine

Don’t put your contact lenses in before you shower or wash your face as you risk exposing your contact lenses to tap water and the bacteria that come with it. We also recommend inserting your lenses after blow-drying and styling your hair, especially if you use hairspray or other aerosols, as these products can dry out your lenses. Also, the spray can coat the lenses, leaving a film that not only irritates the eyes but can also make it difficult to see. If you’re at the hairdresser’s and can’t remove your lenses, close your eyes when the spray is applied.

9. Don’t put makeup on your contacts

Insert your contact lenses before applying makeup, as makeup residue on your hands, e.g. B. mascara, can be easily transferred to your lenses.

It’s not uncommon for people to get concealer, eyeliner, or mascara on their contact lenses. In this case, immediately remove the lens and clean it with solution. Otherwise just replace with another lens. Avoid wearing waterproof makeup as it cannot always be removed from your lenses even if you rinse it off with a solution.

To avoid makeup getting on your lenses, don’t apply mascara all the way from the lash line. Instead, apply it from the middle. It is also important not to apply the eyeliner to the inner eyelid, but to the skin above the eyelashes.

10. Do not wear contact lenses if your eyes are irritated

As the saying goes, “When in doubt – take ’em out!” If your eyes feel irritated or uncomfortable, or if you notice pain or redness, don’t switch on. If your symptoms last a while, contact us at . You don’t want to let a serious infection run unchecked.

When your eyes feel more rested and no more discomfort, put in a new pair of contact lenses.

11. Don’t rub your eyes

If your eyes feel itchy or dry, or if a lens feels wrong, you may be tempted to rub your eyes. But rubbing, with or without contact lenses, can lead to long-term eye problems. This can cause blurred vision and even damage your cornea. Instead, your eye doctor may recommend eye drops to relieve discomfort. Be sure to only use them when the contact lenses are removed.

If you have questions or want to learn more about contact lenses, contact us today at in Denver, Aurora and Westminster. We will be happy to explain how you can take care of your eyes and preserve your vision.

If you’re thinking about switching to contact lenses, you’re not alone. According to the American Optometric Association, an estimated 45 million Americans wear contact lenses

People wear contact lenses to correct a number of refractive errors, including nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia. Contact lenses can also be used to treat eye conditions such as keratoconus or damage to the cornea from infection or injury.

The important question is whether contact lenses are right for you. One way to help you decide is to ask your optometrist for samples so you can try contact lenses for a short period of time. You should also weigh the pros and cons of switching from glasses to contact lenses. This article is not exhaustive, but provides an overview of some of the main advantages and disadvantages of contact lenses.

Good reasons to switch from glasses to contact lenses

Contacts give you a full field of focused vision

Although contact lenses are available in the same prescriptions as eyeglasses, they offer the wearer a full, focused field of vision wherever they look. Because they move with your eyes, contact lenses help you follow actions with sharp, direct, and peripheral vision. Switching to contact lenses also means you can say goodbye to the reflections and distortions you get with glasses.

Contact lenses do not fog up and do not get water stains

They offer the wearer a wider field of vision

They do not distort or reflect light

Contacts give you the freedom to lead an active lifestyle

If you lead (or want to) an active lifestyle, contact lenses give you more freedom and flexibility to enjoy your favorite activities. Lenses are lighter and less obtrusive than glasses, meaning you can walk and move around with greater ease. And if you participate in contact sports like soccer or lacrosse, contact lenses won’t interfere with protective headgear.

Contact lenses don’t bounce or slide off

They don’t rub your ear or pinch your nose

They won’t slow you down or restrict your freedom of movement

Connections can give you more confidence

There’s nothing wrong with wearing glasses — some people even love how they look in glasses — but for others, contact lenses can improve how they see and feel about themselves. The CDC even mentions that some children and teens report that they feel dramatically better when they wear contact lenses.

Contact lenses do not cover your face with frames and give you a natural look

They make it possible to stage eye make-up and eyelash extensions

You can wear contact lenses with the latest fashionable non-prescription sunglasses

Disadvantages of wearing contact lenses

Contact lenses are more work than glasses

Cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses can be complicated and inconvenient. The lenses themselves also require more care and maintenance than glasses. If you’re looking for an easy alternative to wearing glasses, contact lenses may not be the answer — but LASIK surgery could be.

Proper care and hygiene of contact lenses takes some time and dedication

Wearers fear complications if they don’t properly care for their lenses

Lenses come with specific instructions for use – far more so than glasses

Contact lenses carry a higher risk than glasses

Almost all complications stem from poor hygiene and maintenance, but the fact remains that contact lenses pose a greater risk than glasses. Neglecting lens care can cause irritation, conjunctivitis, dry eye syndrome, and other uncomfortable eye problems. The CDC reports the following statistics on contact lens complications and risk factors:

Serious eye infections, which can lead to blindness, affect up to 1 in 500 contact lens wearers each year

Between 40% and 90% of contact lens wearers do not follow their contact lens care instructions properly

Keratitis — a painful eye infection often associated with improper contact lens use — accounts for one million doctor and hospital visits annually

Contact lenses can cost more than prescription glasses

Correct glasses can be expensive, especially when you opt for premium features like designer frames and progressive lenses, but contact lenses can be just as expensive — and in some cases even more. The price depends on many factors, but due to the frequency with which lenses need to be replaced (about every two weeks for disposable lenses), the annual and long-term costs can exceed that of glasses.

Eliminate or reduce the need for glasses and contact lenses

If you are considering switching from glasses to contact lenses, you should also consider laser vision correction. At Southwestern Eye Center, we use the most advanced laser technologies to deliver unmatched accuracy, often resulting in 20/20 or better vision and reducing or eliminating the need for glasses and contact lenses.

The best way to determine which vision correction option is right for you is to speak with an eye care professional, who can assess your specific needs and find a solution that fits your unique lifestyle. If you have any questions, contact the ophthalmologists at Southwestern Eye Center.