Theatrical contact lenses are a fun fashion statement. A new crazy eye color can completely change your look, and give you the vivid, sultry, or exotic eyes that you’ve been dreaming of.
If you’d love to get a bit more attention – or be the center of it, then theatrical contact lenses will definitely make an impact.
Special effect lenses are hugely popular but not everyone wants to look like a zombie or Darth Maul! Crazy lenses completely change the look of your eye but are much more patterned in style. If you want to make an impact – you certainly will!
How are these special lenses made?
The movie producer approaches the contact lens company with a character outline. They will discuss what is required and what is possible. ‘Normal’ sized lenses or full-eye can be used. Once they have decided on the look, the lenses are often hand painted!
The actor’s eyes are measured for a perfect fit. A prescription is included in the theatrical lenses, if necessary. They are cared for just like ordinary lenses and can last from 6-12 months.
The same set of lenses can’t be shared by different actors. It’s unhygienic and against the law in some countries.
Theatrical contact lenses are also manufactured for non-theatrical use and can include custom made designs. So anyone with a valid prescription can purchase theatrical contacts.
What are sclera lenses?
Ordinary colored contact lenses just fit over the colored part of your eye, called the iris. Many special effects ones do too.
Scleral lenses, on the other hand, are the sort that completely change your whole eye and are often used in movies. They are consequently much bigger than ‘normal’ lenses. If these are the type that you desire, there are a few points to consider:
- Not everyone is able to wear scleral lenses. They range in size from 20mm to 22mm in diameter.
- Because of their size, scleral lenses are not easy to put in – or take out! If you are really obsessed with having some, be prepared to practice and use lots…and lots…of eye drops!
- Scleral lenses shouldn’t be worn for more than 2 or 3 hours at a time.
They may hamper your vision as they have a small, fixed pupil – a tiny clear area for you to see through. Because the lenses are so big, they can’t move with your eyes. This can lead to a ‘haze’ in your vision, especially if the lights are low. Avoid wearing them in dim light or take extra care!
No-vision theatrical lenses
With the majority of special effects contact lenses, you are able to see as normal. But there are a few which you won’t be able to see through at all. These are always advertised as ‘no-vision’ or ‘blind’. Actors who wear these in movies have a full-time sighted person to guide them at all times!
If you love the way these look but don’t relish the thought of not being able to see, a compromise is to buy one ‘no-vision’ and a matching (or non matching) one, with vision. That way, you get a great effect and you can still find your way home!
What Styles Are Available?
How about Stars and Stripes, red and white striped Candy Canes, black and white spirals, yellow and black radioactive – or even mirrored? Or you could go for a blue background with a black star, a yellow smiley face or a spiders web! Or if you want to stare dreamily into someone’s eyes, how about a star and moon design? If your appetite is whetted, do a search for crazy contacts and you’ll be amazed!
Do I need a prescription?
If you are intending to use colored lenses for Halloween or another special event and not for vision correction, do you still need to visit an eye doctor and receive a prescription for them? The answer is absolutely yes.
The reason why prescriptions are necessary with any kind of contacts is that in order to be safe, contact lenses must be specially fitted for each eye. The size and curvature of each eye varies dramatically. Even your left and right eyes do not necessarily take the same prescription.
The curvature of your eye is very important for proper vision. Consider that one of the ways of correcting vision problems is to use a carefully fitted contact lens to change the shape of your eye, and you can see how dangerous it could be to wear contact lenses that do not fit properly. Poorly fitting contacts, whether colored or clear, are capable of making you permanently blind.
In order to ensure that your contact lenses fit you properly, your eye doctor must carefully measure the exact dimensions of each of your eyes and write a prescription for those measurements.
Can I share my theatrical contacts with my friends?
People who intend to use contacts for purely cosmetic purposes might be tempted to share their lenses with friends, the same way they might share lipstick or nail polish. This is an extremely bad idea, however.
Not only do your friends have different eye measurements, leading to the above problems, but it is also possible to transmit dangerous bacteria from eye to eye.
How Do I Buy Them?
Crazy contact lenses are easy to buy online. If you already wear lenses then you’ll have a prescription to order with. If you’ve lost it and it’s under a year old, your eye care professional will issue you a duplicate free of charge.
If you’ve never worn lenses you will need to get your eyes properly measured by a professional. This applies even if your vision is perfect and you just want the lenses for a cosmetic effect. Getting your eyes measured only takes a few minutes and is pain-free as nothing touches your eye.
You can still buy non sight-correcting lenses over the internet without a prescription but be aware that this is now illegal is America. Since November 2005, all contact lenses in the US have now been classified as medical items, in an effort to keep people’s eyes safe.
If you wish to buy non-prescription lenses online, be aware that they may not fit comfortably. One size doesn’t fit all! It’s recommended that you always buy from a site that requires a prescription. It’s a little extra hassle but aren’t your eyes worth it?
In order to use theatrical contacts safely, never buy them from an unauthorized source, always be sure to have a current prescription, and be sure to always use only your own contact lenses. Your eyes will thank you for it and you will still have a fun Halloween!
How Do Patterned Lenses Stay The Right Way Up?
If you’re buying lenses with a cat’s eye design, or a design that needs to stay a certain way up for the design to look right – make sure that they are stabilized or weighted.
If the lens is weighted, the bottom edge is very slightly thicker than the top edge and acts like a ballast. This is not visible and it is just enough to prevent the lens from rotating on your eye.
How Do I Look After My Theatrical Lenses?
If you are buying disposable lenses, check how many wears the seller recommends. If they are single wear, then you just throw them away after you’ve worn them once. If they are designed for more than one wear, which is more usual with crazy lenses, then you will need to buy a storage pot and solution for them. Soft contact lenses have a high water content which is what makes them so comfortable to wear. It also means that they will shrivel up if not stored properly in solution.
Check if the seller recommends any particular solution for the care of your theatrical lenses.
