Coloured Contact Lenses: 10 Safety Rules to Follow Before You Wear Them

1. Get Your Eyes Checked First

Before wearing any lenses for the first time, visit an optometrist or ophthalmologist. They will check that your eyes are healthy, measure the curve and size of your cornea so that the lens fits properly, and tell you if you have conditions like dry eye that make lenses uncomfortable. A lens that is too tight or too loose can rub against the eye and cause damage.

2. Buy Only Branded Lenses from Trusted Sellers

Avoid cheap, unbranded lenses sold at roadside stalls, costume shops or unknown websites. Poor-quality lenses may have colour pigment on the surface that touches your eye, poor oxygen flow or rough edges. Buy sealed, branded lenses with a clear expiry date and batch number.

3. Never Share Lenses

Sharing lenses with a friend, even once and even if they are cleaned, can pass on bacteria and viruses that cause serious eye infections. Coloured lenses are personal, like a toothbrush.

4. Wash and Dry Your Hands Every Time

Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them with a clean, lint-free towel before touching your lenses or your eyes. Most lens infections start from unwashed hands.

5. Never Use Water or Saliva

Never rinse lenses or their case in tap water, bottled water or saliva, and never store them in water. Water can carry an organism called Acanthamoeba that causes a rare but very serious eye infection. Only use the multipurpose lens solution recommended for your lenses, and use fresh solution every time. Do not top up old solution.

6. Respect the Wearing Time

Most cosmetic lenses are designed for around six to eight hours of wear a day. Wearing them longer reduces the oxygen reaching your cornea and makes your eyes dry and red. For a long wedding day, put them in as late as possible and carry your glasses and lens case.

7. Never Sleep in Your Lenses

Sleeping in lenses, even for a short nap, greatly increases the risk of infection. Always remove them before sleeping, no matter how tired you are after a function.

8. Put Lenses In Before Makeup, Take Them Out Before Removing It

• Insert lenses first, then apply makeup, so powders and creams on your fingers do not get onto the lens.
• Avoid glittery or loose eyeshadow that can fall into the eye, and keep eyeliner off the inner waterline.
• Remove lenses first at the end of the day, then take off your makeup.

9. Replace on Schedule

Daily lenses must be thrown away after one use. Monthly or yearly lenses must be replaced on schedule, even if you have only worn them a few times, and counted from the date the pack was opened. Replace your lens case every one to three months and let it air-dry upside down after cleaning.

10. Know the Warning Signs

Remove your lenses immediately and see an eye doctor the same day if you have any of the following:

• Eye pain or a feeling that something is stuck in the eye that does not go away.
• Redness that does not settle after removing the lens.
• Blurred vision or sudden sensitivity to light.
• Watering or discharge.

Do not put lenses back in until your eyes are fully healthy and your doctor says it is safe. Keep the lens and case, as the doctor may want to test them.

Choosing a Shade That Looks Natural

For dark brown Indian eyes, the most natural results come from honey, hazel, light brown and soft grey shades with a darker outer ring (called a limbal ring) that blends into your natural eye colour. Bright blue and green look dramatic and suit parties and photo shoots, but can look artificial in daylight. Look at photos of lenses on eyes similar to yours, and check how the lens looks both in daylight and under indoor lights.

Some coloured lenses slightly reduce vision at the edges or in dim light, because the coloured area can move over the pupil. Never drive at night in coloured lenses until you know how they affect your vision.

If you would like to see shades in person, our lens studio can show you options. We always recommend an eye check-up with an eye care professional before you start wearing lenses.