What are special effects contact lenses?

While special effects contact lenses are relatively new to the general public they've been an essential tool in Hollywood's make-up bag for nearly half a century.

As far back as 1967 special effects contact lenses made the headlines when Audrey Hepburn won an Academy Award for her portrayal of a blind woman in Wait Until Dark.

The difference was that back in the sixties you needed to be on a film star's salary to be able to buy a pair of special effects contact lenses Since then though, have fallen and they're now within most people's financial reach.

Consequently pecial effects contact lenses are no longer the sole preserve of the stage and the silver screen, and are often used to put the finishing touches to a fancy-dress costume and at Halloween. The current market leaders (WildEyes and Crazy Lenses) machine-stamp the design onto the lens, which means that, while the range is limited, prices are kept relatively low.

If you are looking for something more exclusive there are several special effects companies on the Internet that will hand paint any design that you want on a pair of lenses. Hence there's nothing to limit you creativity except your imagination. Naturally you'll have to pay more, which is why the majority of these specialist suppliers currently target themselves at the film and music industries.

Although prescriptions aren't needed to buy special effects contact lenses, if you have any doubts about how to wear or care for them contact your eye-care professional.

Special effects contact lenses generally refer to lenses that alter the outward appearance of the eye (and are also known as novelty contact lenses), however the latest light filtering contact lenses can actually alter what the wearer sees as well.

Designed with sportsmen in mind the light-filtering tint enhances a chosen colour (such as yellow for a tennis or golf ball) by dulling all the other colours in the visual spectrum. This means that whoever is wearing the lenses will be able to track the ball better, whether sportsman or spectator.

© The Pink Fridge Online Magazine 2008 - Contact Lenses

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