Most contact lenses are used to correct vision problems.  Some of these contact lenses are available in shades that change the colour of the wearer’s eyes.  Until recently, contact lenses sold purely for cosmetic reasons could be sold without a license in Canada.

Countries such as the US, UK and Japan have had regulations in place since 2009 to protect consumers from cosmetic contact lenses sold without a license.  Such products may be contaminated, defective or poorly fitting, all of which may cause damage to a wearer’s eyes.

Lyndon Jones, director of the Centre for Contact Lens Research at the University of Waterloo feels this decision is in the best interests of protecting Canadians from harm.  He states that contact lenses, when professionally fit by an optometrist, are very safe to wear.  The lack of any fitting process whatsoever with off-the-shelf cosmetic contact lenses puts the wearer’s eyes at significant risk.  “Literally, they are blinding” said Jones.

The choice of wearing a coloured contact lens used to mean a step backwards in technology.  Less oxygen to the eye, a less comfortable wearing experience or poorer vision was often the result.  We now have access to many modern materials that do not compromise eye health, comfort and vision

Book your eye exam now to learn if they are right for you.