Choosing between clear vs colored contact lenses shouldn't be a hard decision. Both options have unique benefits and considerations. Use this informative guide to make the right choice based on your preferences, lifestyle, and personal vision needs.
Vision Correction Needs
Understanding your vision correction needs is the first step to finding out if clear or colored contact lenses are the better fit for you.
Clear Contact Lenses
Clear contact lenses are suitable for those who seek vision correction.
These types of contacts are transparent and don't alter eye color. Thus, they provide no aesthetic benefits.
Clear lenses are a popular choice for individuals with nearsightedness and farsightedness. They help focus light on the retina, allowing those with common refractive errors to see clearly.
The clear-color lenses are also available in toric designs to correct astigmatism. They can have different powers in different meridians. Thus addressing the uneven curvature of the cornea or lens in astigmatic eyes.
Last but not least, multifocal or bifocal clear lenses address presbyopia. The condition affects people over the age of 40, causing difficulty in focusing on close-up objects.
Colored Contact Lenses
Colored lenses are available with or without a prescription for vision correction.
So you don't need to have eye problems to get them. They are semi-translucent and their main purpose is cosmetic appeal. Ideal for individuals who want to enhance or change their eye color while or without addressing vision issues.
Color contacts allow wearers to experiment with different eye colors. Along with adding a fashionable or artistic touch to their appearance.
If you need to mask irregularities in eye color, colored contacts are the way to go. This is relevant for individuals with heterochromia or uneven iris pigmentation.
Comparing Clear vs Colored Contact Lenses
Natural Look or Making a Statement
Clear lenses boast a natural appearance, maintaining the original eye color. Those who want a subtle or inconspicuous vision correction option choose clear contacts.
On the contrary, colored contact lenses are a means to experiment. Wearers who enjoy making a statement with their eye color can try something new. Either enhancing or changing their look.
Comfort and Breathability
Clear contacts consist of advanced materials providing breathability and comfort. Suitable for people who prioritize comfort during long hours of wear.
Materials for colored lenses are also designed for comfort. Yet, different contact lens types may have varying breathability levels. Wearers should take proper care and follow hygiene guidelines to maintain eye comfort.
Maintenance and Care
For clear prescription lenses, maintenance involves regular cleaning and storage in a lens case with an appropriate solution. Daily disposable lenses remove the need for extensive cleaning, as they come in a single-use container.
For color contacts, there is a similar care routine as clear lenses. With extra consideration for preserving the color and pattern. Follow care guidelines by the lens manufacturer to prevent any discoloration or damage.
RELATED: How to Clean Contact Lenses?
Cost Considerations
In general, clear lenses are more cost-effective. Especially if you opt for daily disposable ones. Insurance coverage may apply for clear prescription lenses for vision correction. But before you assume, check that with your healthcare provider.
Colored eye lenses may be a bit more expensive. The reason is, that they come in various sizes and sometimes include more features. Note that some insurance plans may not cover the cost of colored lenses for cosmetic purposes.
The Final Decision
At the end of the day, if you need vision correction, both options are viable for you. So you need to weigh the pros and cons and decide for yourself if you also wish to change your look or not. But if you are only interested in aesthetics and you don't have vision issues - the obvious choice is color contacts.
We hope our publication makes the choice easier for you. For more tips on how to take care of your eyes, check out our eye health blog.