When patients bring up the topic of colored contact lenses, the first thing that comes to mind is changing eye color.In addition to cosmetic reasons, tinted or tinted contact lenses can help patients in a number of ways, such as reducing glare or changing color perception in people with color blindness.
Whether for cosmetic or therapeutic use, tinted contact lenses are generally not what OD refers to patients.However, once recommended, they are of interest to many patients.
color contacts
Recommendations can be made from different angles.Regardless of how they’re delivered, it’s important to note that while tinted lenses may benefit patients, they carry risks that many are unaware of.Let’s review how colored contact lenses can safely and effectively benefit patients.
Mass-produced colored contact lenses Mass-produced colored contact lenses can be found in try-on kits and are easily dispensed in an office setting.Often, these shots are computer-generated.Therefore, OD cannot change parameters such as saturation, lightness, or color alignment.
Mass-produced colored contact lenses can enhance the natural color of a patient’s eye or completely change it.They are similar to most soft contact lenses used to correct refractive errors.Therefore, no additional sitting time is required compared to mass-produced clear soft contact lenses.
Most mass-produced colored lenses have spherical power that is replaced daily or monthly.Lenses are less expensive due to mass production, so they can easily be introduced to patients as a full-time or temporary wear option.
Mass-produced colored contact lenses are often popular at social events.1 Thanks to their transparent backing and colored pigments around the iris, they allow for a variety of patterns that can create natural or bold looks.
For example, a patient with brown eyes may choose brown or hazel to slightly change the color of the iris, or blue or green to change the appearance more dramatically.Despite the ease of fitting and educating patients about their options, these lenses have the highest complication rates among contact lens wearers.2
Complications While the risks of cosmetic lenses are obvious to ODs who have seen ocular consequences, the general population is often unfamiliar with the threat they pose to eye health.When Berenson et al. investigated patients’ knowledge and use of cosmetic contact lenses, the results showed that many patients did not understand the risks and proper use instructions.3,4 According to the survey, one in four patients reported having used cosmetic lenses before, and many obtained lenses from unauthorized sources.
When asked about contact lens knowledge, the results showed that many patients did not know the proper wearing protocol.3 Most patients are unaware that it is illegal to sell contact lenses over the counter without a prescription nationwide.Nor do they realize that contact lenses are not a panacea, that parasites can attach to the lenses, and that “anime” lenses are not FDA-approved.3
RELATED: Poll Results: What’s Your Biggest Dissatisfaction with Contact Lens Wear?Of the patients surveyed, 62.3% said they had never been taught how to clean contact lenses.3
While we may be aware of some of these findings, it is important to examine how cosmetic lenses increase the chance of adverse events (AEs) compared to clear contact lenses.
AEs Color contact lenses have a higher risk of infectious and inflammatory events due to their composition.A recent study examined various cosmetic contact lenses to determine the location of pigments in the lens layers.5 It found that most of the analyzed lenses contained most of the pigment within 0.4 mm of the surface.Most countries do not regulate the extent of paint enclosures, but location can affect safety and comfort.5
Another study found that most contact lens brands failed the rub-off test, causing colored pigments to peel off.6 Wipe off test Use a cotton swab to gently wipe the front and rear surfaces of the contact lens for 20 seconds, then measure the amount of pigment detachment.
Related: Lenses with scleral-lens space determined using OCT that failed swabbing showed higher Pseudomonas aeruginosa adhesion, which resulted in increased AEs and vision-threatening AEs.These pigments were found to contain elements that are toxic to ocular surface tissues.7
The presence of any pigment can cause AEs.Lau et al found that lenses with pigments on the lens surface (front or back) had significantly higher friction values in the colored areas than in the clear areas.8 Studies have concluded that cosmetic lenses with exposed pigments have less consistent surfaces, resulting in lubricity and increased surface roughness.Lubricity and roughness play integral roles in maintaining tear film stability.As a result, interruptions can lead to unstable vision and reduced contact lens comfort.
Acanthamoeba keratitis can occur with all types of contact lenses, a risk we discuss with all new wearers.Teaching patients to avoid the use of water with soft contact lenses is a key element of lens insertion and removal training.Multipurpose and hydrogen peroxide solutions can help reduce AEs associated with microbes, but recent research has found that the composition of the lens affects the likelihood of Acanthamoeba attaching to the lens.9
Related: Give Toric Orthokeratology Lenses Scanning Electron Microscopy Imaging Using SEM images, Lee et al. found that the achromatic surfaces of cosmetic contact lenses were smoother and flatter than the colored areas.
They also found that a higher number of Acanthamoeba trophozoites were attached to pigmented rough areas compared to colorless, smoother areas.
As demand for cosmetic contact lenses increases, this is a risk that should be discussed with patients who wear tinted lenses.
With newer lens materials, such as silicone hydrogels, most mass-produced contact lenses provide more oxygen permeability than necessary.Oxygen transmission is measured through the central optic zone of the lens, while peripheral oxygen transmission is problematic.
A study by Galas and Copper used special lenses (made exclusively with pigments to pass through the central optical zone) to measure oxygen transmission through pigments.10 They found that the pigment did not statistically affect the oxygen transmission rate, thus demonstrating that it does not reduce or alter lens safety.RELATED: Expert Offers Secrets to Contact Lens Practice Success
color contacts
CONCLUSIONS Despite the shortcomings of mass-produced contact lenses, their use has been steadily increasing.This article aims to help practitioners understand why education is an important part of wearing colored contact lenses.Whether for cosmetic or therapeutic use, patient education and risk awareness can help reduce adverse events and improve the safety of tinted contact lenses.Read more about contact lenses –
1. Rah MJ, Schafer J, Zhang L, Chan O, Roy L, Barr JT.A meta-analysis of studies on tinted soft contact lenses.Clinical Ophthalmology.2013;7:2037-2042.doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S51600
2. Ji YW, Cho YJ, Lee CH, et al. Comparison of surface roughness and bacterial adhesion between cosmetic contact lenses and conventional contact lenses.Eye contact lenses.2015;41(1):25-33.doi:10.1097/ICL.0000000000000054
3. Berenson AB, Hirth JM, Chang M, Merkley KH.Awareness and use of cosmetic contact lenses in women of childbearing age.J Women’s Health (Larchmt).2019;28(3):403-409.doi: 10.1089/jwh.2018.7358
4. Berenson AB, Chang M, Hirth JM, Merkley KH.Use and abuse of cosmetic contact lenses among US adolescents in southeastern Texas.Adolesc Health Med Ther.2019;10:1-6.doi: 10.2147/AHMT.S196573
5. Korde V, McDow K, Rollins D, Stinchcomb R, Esposito H.Identifying pigment shells in cosmetic contact lenses.Eye contact lenses.2020;46(4):228-233.doi:10.1097/ICL.0000000000000632
6. Chan KY, Cho P, Boost M. Microbial adhesion to cosmetic contact lenses.Continuous lens front eye.2014;37(4):267-272.doi:10.1016/j.clae.2013.12.002
7. Hotta F, Eguchi H, Imai S, Miyamoto T, Mitamura-Aizawa S, Mitamura Y. Scanning Electron Microscopy Discovery and Energy Dispersive X-ray Studies of Cosmetic Colored Contact Lenses.Eye contact lenses.2015;41(5):291-296.doi:10.1097/ICL.0000000000000122
8. Lau C, Tosatti S, Mundorf M, Ebare K, Osborn Lorenz K.Comparison of lubricity and surface roughness of 5 cosmetic contact lenses.Eye contact lenses.2018;44 Supplement 2(2):S256-S265.doi:10.1097/ICL.0000000000000482
9. Lee SM, Lee JE, Lee DI, Yu HS.Adhesion of Acanthamoeba to cosmetic contact lenses.J Korea Medical Science.2018;33(4):e26.doi:10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e26
10. Galas S, Copper LL.Oxygen permeability of coloring materials for cosmetic daily-disposable contact lenses.Clinical Ophthalmology.2016;10:2469-2474.doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S105222
Post time: Jan-25-2022
