For anyone who wants to change their eye colour for a day or every day, coloured contact lenses are usually the first thing people think of. Some want them to correct their vision, others purely for the look.
A coloured lens may look like an accessory, but it touches the eye directly and needs as much care as any contact lens.
What Coloured Contact Lenses Are
A coloured contact lens covers or tints the coloured part of the eye, the iris. The area over the pupil stays clear so that vision is not blocked. The colour pattern sits in the ring around it and is designed to imitate the natural texture of the eye. A coloured lens sits on the surface of the eye just like a clear lens and needs the same care.
- Enhancement tints make light-coloured eyes look more vivid
- Opaque lenses can change the colour of dark eyes completely
- Prescription coloured lenses correct vision and change eye colour at the same time
Prescription and Plano Coloured Lenses
People who are short-sighted or long-sighted can wear coloured lenses with their prescription, so they see clearly without glasses and get the eye colour they want. The power of a prescription coloured lens may not match your glasses prescription exactly, because the lens sits directly on the eye. That is why a contact lens prescription is written separately, and prescription coloured lenses need one from your eye doctor. Coloured options can be more limited for higher astigmatism, in which case we look at the options that match your prescription together.
If you have no prescription, plano coloured lenses are an option too. Having no prescription does not make them a harmless accessory, though. The diameter and curve of the lens must fit your eye, and the material must let the eye breathe. Prescription or not, every coloured lens should start with a fitting check by your eye doctor.
Choosing a Shade for Your Eyes
For a natural look, people usually choose a shade close to their own but slightly lighter. On brown eyes, hazel and honey tones look more natural, while those who want a clear change can go for grey and blue. On dark eyes, light shades need lenses with high opacity to show.
The pattern matters as much as the colour. Flat single-colour lenses can look artificial, while patterns that imitate the texture of the iris with fine lines and a darker outer ring look more natural. Natural patterns suit everyday wear, and bolder shades can be saved for special occasions.
Skin tone, hair colour and where you will wear the lenses also play a part. A shade that looks natural in daylight can look different in the evening. If you cannot decide, we can look at the shade and pattern options together in our Kemalpasa shop.
Types by Wearing Schedule
Like clear lenses, coloured lenses come with different wearing schedules. Daily and monthly lenses are the most common.
- Daily coloured lenses are worn once and thrown away. They are the most hygienic choice for occasional wear and special days
- Monthly coloured lenses are taken out and cleaned every day and used for a month. They cost less for regular wearers but need proper care
On hot summer days in İzmir and in windy weather, lenses can dry out faster. If your eyes start to burn during the day, it is better to take the lenses out earlier. You will find general information in our article on contact lens types and care.
Hygiene When Putting Lenses In and Taking Them Out
Most mistakes with coloured lenses come down to hygiene. Wash your hands with soap and dry them with a lint-free towel before touching the lens. If you wear make-up, put the lens in first and apply make-up afterwards. In the evening, take the lens out first and then remove your make-up. This keeps make-up residue off the lens surface.
If you wear monthly lenses, empty the case every day and fill it with fresh solution. Never top up old solution, and replace the case every few months. Cleaning a lens with tap water or saliva exposes the eye to a serious risk of infection.
Rules for Safe Wear
- Never share your lenses. Swapping lenses with a friend seriously raises the risk of eye infection
- Avoid lenses of unknown origin sold in beauty shops or on social media
- Do not sleep, shower or swim in the sea or a pool with your lenses in. With so many summer days spent at the sea and by the pool in İzmir, this rule matters even more
- Throw lenses away when their wearing period ends. Replace monthly lenses after a month and daily lenses after a single use
- If your eye becomes red, painful or blurry, take the lens out straight away and see an eye doctor
- If you have dry eyes, allergies or repeated eye infections, speak to your eye doctor before wearing lenses
If you are new to contact lenses, our first-time contact lens guide walks you through putting them in and taking them out.
Do Coloured Lenses Affect Vision?
A well-fitted coloured lens does not noticeably affect everyday vision. In dim light or at night, when the pupil grows larger, some wearers notice a faint shadow of the colour pattern at the edge of their view. When the pattern moves slightly on the eye, you may also notice brief blur at the edge of your view, and the lens settles back into place when you blink. It is worth knowing this, especially if you drive at night, and taking care in the first days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do coloured lenses damage the eyes?
No contact lens is completely risk-free, coloured or clear. A lens that fits your eye and comes from a reliable source, worn for the recommended time with good hygiene, lowers that risk. Problems most often come from sharing lenses, wearing them beyond their schedule and buying lenses without a fitting check.
How many hours a day can I wear coloured lenses?
This depends on the lens material and the condition of your eyes. It is best to start with short periods in the first days and increase the time gradually as your eyes adapt. Take the lens out as soon as you feel burning, dryness or redness.
Do plano coloured lenses need a check too?
Yes. Even without a prescription, the diameter and curve of the lens must fit your eye. A lens that does not fit can irritate the surface of the eye or rotate so that the pattern shifts. The fitting check is done by your eye doctor and is the safest way to choose the right lens.
I wear glasses, can I wear coloured lenses too?
Most people can. A glasses prescription is not the same as a contact lens prescription. Prescription coloured lenses need one from your eye doctor, and your doctor also carries out the fitting check. You do not have to give up your glasses, you can switch between lenses and glasses on different days.
Coloured Contact Lenses in Kemalpaşa, İzmir
At İlhan Optik, our shop in the Mehmet Akif Ersoy neighbourhood of Kemalpaşa, we help you choose coloured contact lenses. Bring the prescription from your eye doctor to our Kemalpasa store and we will choose your coloured lenses together. Plano coloured lenses also need a fitting check by your eye doctor first. If you are curious about your glasses prescription, see your eye doctor, then bring the prescription to us for our prescription glasses service. Prescription contact lenses also need a doctor's prescription. If you are planning coloured lenses for a special day, coming in a few days early gives you time to get used to them. Coming from Bornova, Buca or central İzmir, you do not need an appointment, and we speak English. Details are on our contact lens page.
