Basic Guide to Coloured Contact Lenses

By Icarus. 27/01/11, 08:15 pm

Like fake lashes, they're not necessary but definitely add flair to the cosplay.

Contacts are generally safe to wear as long as you take care of them and follow the instructions that come with them. This guide is off the top of my head as I lost the guide I had... orz. So if anyone has extra things to add just post it up and I'll add it here.

If it's your first time using them, it is HIGH RECOMMENDED you go to an optometrist first just to get your eyes checks on whether your eyes are able to wear them etc. Remember, this is your sight we're dealing with, so you'd want to be very careful with what you do to your eyes. And if you wear glasses then you can even get prescription coloured lenses from them. C:

[Picking lenses]
Most people's irises are about 14mm in diameter, standard 'western' contacts are usually:
Diameter: 14.00mm
Base Curve (curve of the lens) : 8.6mm
Centre Thickness: 0.05

While many of the asian contacts are larger in diameter ranging from 14.50mm to even 16.00mm. They're larger to make your eyes look bigger.

(both photos by our fav photographer, Static <3 )
on the left are 14mm Solid contacts, these are extremely visable to the point of scarying kids. (many many kids...)
on the right are 14.5mm Circle lenses (the asian kind) they make your eyes look bigger but the colour isn't as visible. (can you guess the colour?)

So when you choose lens you can pick the regular 14mm as they are easier to put in, or bigger ones for bigger eyes. Solid type for a bolder colour, or circle ones to be more subtle. And when buying them for the first time, BUY CONTACT LENS SOLUTION. This is used to take care/clean them.

Now for how to take care of lenses. Heres a short list of what NOT to do:
DO NOT share your contacts, I've had people ask if they could borrow mine and I screamed back it's worse than getting aids!
DO NOT keep them in for longer than 8 hours.
DO NOT keep them in water, do not clean them with water either
DO NOT wear over the expiry date, there’s a reason that dates there.

[How to put contacts in]
I'm going to makes this a summery only, and cause I'm not very good at explaining things here's a good ---> [Tutorial.] <---

If it's your first time wearing them, ~~expect pain~~ you will cry. Your eyes wouldn't be used to being touched so it'll take a while and be quite awkward. (I took 40-50 mins on the first go, and cried manry tears 8'D )

First step, wash your hands, make sure they're REALLY clean and don't have any lint on them after drying. (If they do you'll be in a world of pain.) Take one of the lenses out and make sure it's up right (refer to link above). Pull back your upper or lower eye lid with your other hand and pop it in. Will take a few tries cause you’ll end up blinking just before or your eyes will say gtfo.
It gets ALOT easier after...... the 7th/8th go. When they're in they're meant to feel awkward and you will feel them everytime you blink, thats normal. BUT if they sting, take them out clean them with solution and check whether it's up right or not. (if they still sting like crazy after checking them after quite a few tries then I suggest you abandon them. Vision > Cosplay )

Make sure to do this BEFORE applying make-up. If you're pro enough do put contacts in without crying or smudging your make-up then it doesn't really matter either way.

As mentioned above, maximum amount of time for having contacts in your eyes is 8 hours per day. Best to take them out as soon as possible if your eyes get really tired or uncomfortable.
After taking them out, clean the lenses (place in palm, pour some solution over it, and lightly rub for 5 secs on both sides with finger.) Pour solution into a spare case (make sure you get one when buying) then put contacts inside.

Recommended to change the case and clean the contacts every month, annnd I think that's it.
but yea, I can't stress enough how important your vision is. Please please please take care of your eyes, contacts are not toys. Just follow the instructions and be sensible, 'kay?

------------------------------------
OH, almost forgot. Lots of users on here ask about where they can get contacts from.

Trade me is where I usually get mine, before you say EWWWWW. There are some users on TM that are contact lens stores that sell through Trade Me so they are new and safe. If anything just check their feedback. Some have links to their websites.

Users I've bought from:
Jason289
wiluan

If anyone to can recommend more users, I can post them here for future ref. for others.

Another option of getting lenses is through retail stores like Ocean & Ice, but retails contacts usually cost about $40-$70 and they're usually the circle style, but at 14mm. So you can't see the colour very much, nor does it make your eyes look bigger. Sorta not worth it.
Google is another source, just lots of digging through overseas sellers. So yea, take your pick~

By Pyro. 28/01/11, 01:08 am

Just going to add to this!!

If you drop your contacts in the sink/on a countertop/etc while putting them in, DO NOT CONTINUE YOUR ATTEMPT RIGHT AWAY. Put them in solution and wait a while (I think the minimum is like 30 minutes or so? I may be wrong-- but it is a decent amount of time) for any debris to come off before trying again. Otherwise you'll get dirt in your eye.

I did this once.

Here's a summary of the experience.

UBFCIREQHVGOSRNBOGSNGVOUGFTRSNBIVJBGRIUBVJGRSIJKVBGRSIUHFIUAVBFIASN

so yeah.

Also, if you see colours on the edge of your vision when you put them in, that's normal, just give them about half an hour and your eyes'll adjust to them. If the discomfort of that is getting to you, wearing sunglasses can help make your eyes feel less painfuuull!

Likewise, if they're in the wrong spot on your eye when you shove them in, blink a lot and they'll eventually settle onto your iris. Patience. Very Happy

Aaand finally, always put the plug in the sink if you're applying contacts while in the bathroom. s-in-c can explain in detail why this is important, but you can all probably guess easily enough. Money wastage, cry cryyy.

By Rikki-Leigh. 28/01/11, 03:15 am

I has something to add as well >> Concerning astigmatisms.

I have astigmatism in both eyes so both my eyes are oddly shaped. So whenever I wear contacts, my pupils aren't centered and when my pupils are... bigger (too sleepy to remember the word) the top of my vision is often tinted the color of the contact (or goes the colour of the contact depending on which type of printing is on the contact).

Just a note to say that it can happen and astigmatisms have the chance to not sit properly on your eyes.

By Rosenquarts. 28/01/11, 01:05 pm

I have a rare eye disease. This in turn means I can't use contacts till i'm 21. So if you can't use contacts till a certian age I recomend you use them when you have reached that age.

otherwise it will hurt like a bull frog

By SoulessPuppet. 28/01/11, 03:02 pm

Lovely guide.
I'm just hoping that trademe sells prescription coloured contacts for horrible eyesight. OTL

By Koemix. 30/01/11, 01:20 pm

thank you for this ^^
i'll definately get the optomitrist ones though,
(due to my horrible eyesight and my parents wont let me buy off trade me ors )

By UsagiCosplay. 29/07/11, 06:49 pm

um, here in Hamilton you can buy circle lenses in pretty colours from the pharmacist a little up from the Victoria cinema. (they also have pretty patterns like flags and stuff), but they are about $20-$30 a pop, and the circle lenses are only basic colours. (good if you want your cosplay to look more natural.)
hope someone finds this useful. ^_^

By Le_Saboteur. 29/07/11, 07:56 pm

I will be having my first brush with contact lenses later this year. THANK YOU FOR THIS AWESOME GUIDE ICARUS ILY.

By Kotorigaro. 01/10/11, 07:12 pm

You can get very nice coloured contacts (both non-prescription and prescription) from quicklens.co.nz. I recommend the FreshLook ColourBlends, I've worn contacts since I was 12 and I can vouch for them that they are very nice lenses. nodnod