Okay, now in cosplay some of us are really
quite nuts about detail and all the jazz to the point that we also give our
eyes “costumes”. Enter Photoshop where eye color can be changed in a second.
But some people can still tell the difference between the Photoshopped eyes to
the natural ones, which is why to make things more “natural” (for Lolitas, to
make them more kawaii or doll-like or for those Naruto fans, sharigans) contact
lenses have become our best friend.
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| Berry Lens Charm Blue 16 mm. SO BLUE - with flash that is. |
So generally speaking, What are contact
lenses?
Contact lenses are these small disks made
from either plastic or silicone (think of those packets they put in shoe boxes
or silicon breasts for cancer patients but small and for the eyes) which is used to
correct eye problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
People who had surgery for cataracts also use them. You can say that they are
the miniature and the handier version of prescription glasses.
Okay here’s the little scientific explanation
of how contact lenses stick in your eye. If you don’t understand, you can skip
this part. Contact lenses stick to the tear film, which covers the front of the
eye. This is done so because whenever the eyelid blinks the movement causes the
lens to move slightly therefore allowing fresh tears to flow under the lens
providing ample lubrication and oxygen.
There are two types of contact lenses, the HARD
and the SOFT lenses. These two categories are further divided into
sub-categories. But we are more familiar with the soft lenses since these are
usually the lenses used in cosplay.
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| Sparkle Anime Lenses |
The most popular among these would be the fashion
lenses or tinted soft lenses.
Like most accessories and gadgets, contact
lenses also have a wear and tear or an expiration date, and will most likely
come fast when used improperly. When that does happen one can damage their
eyes.
Here are just some facts that a first timer should know. (prepare yourself for a long wall of text!)
- Always do a visual check on the lens.
Contact lenses are always packaged in a
transparent container so before opening it run a visual check on the lens. This
is to ensure that the right type of lens arrives at your doorstep or detect any
defects on the lens so that you can get a replacement. If you don’t and insert
those damaged lenses in your eye, you might seriously hurt them. Yikes!
- How would I know if my contact lenses are
inside-out?
The trick is to place the lens on your
finger so that a cup is formed. Then hold the lens up directly in front of your
eyes so you're looking at the side of the cup. If the lens forms a
"U" with the top edges flared out, it's inside out. If it forms just
a "U," it's in the correct position. If you're wearing lenses with a
handling tint, another way is to place the lens on your fingertip and then look
down at it. The edge of a tinted lens should look very blue (or green,
depending on the tint); that won't be the case if the lens is inverted.
Some contact lenses also have a laser
marking, such as the brand name, on the edge to help you. If you can read it
properly, the lens is not inside out. Don't worry if you place a contact lens
in your eye inside out. The lens will feel uncomfortable, but it can't do any
damage. But do take note that if there are any irregularities with the lens
don’t apply them just yet because there must be something wrong with them and
could potentially damage your eyes.
When I placed my lenses during the first
time, I found out that my eye gets irritated when the lens is inside out. A bit
itchy but it is an effective indicator.
- Never put on contact lenses if your nails
are long
This one’s pretty self explanatory. Seriously,
are you trying to hurt yourself?
- Wash your hands before placing and removing
your contact lens
This is definitely a must, and a note for
good hygiene, since dirty hands can contaminate your contact lens and would
most likely lead to problems such as infection. Also, you might introduce
debris, such as dust, to your eyes and will likely get caught in between. Also
avoid scented or oily soaps, especially which contains lanolin and moisturizing
lotion for it may adhere to the surface of the lens. Think of it as placing a
dirty hand in your mouth. You wouldn’t want that don’t you?
Drugstores like Mercury and Watsons provide
lens lubricants and a 360mL bottle doesn’t cost that much. It’s better to buy
the big bottles as it will really be worth your money.
Another tidbit, never touch or let anything
touch the opening of your bottles. The solutions are highly sterilized and
sensitive to dirt and such and you’ll be a goner if those get dirty.
- Always keep your lenses lubricated and
clean after use
Despite that the lenses are naturally
lubricated by tears, would be best to apply eye lubricants from time to time
to avoid redness and dry eyes. Also clean after use to prevent bacteria from
forming on the lenses. Eye Mo’s a good lubricant for your eyes although it’s a
bit expensive
- Do not wear your contacts overnight.
Even if the packaging would say that the
lenses are good for a month or more than that however improper care would speed
up the expiration. Wearing lenses overnight would place you in a higher risk of
infection so it’s best to give your eyes their well-deserved rest.
- Wear your contacts first before putting on
make-up.
This is because make up sticks to the
lenses and is hard to flush out and would most likely lead to contamination and
irritation when applied to the eye. Choose makeup that would less likely get
into your eye.
However, this doesn’t really apply to
everyone. If you’re good enough, placing make-up before putting on lenses is a good
option as sometimes, while putting on makeup, the lens might stick up to your
eyelids.
- If persistent discomfort persists, see an
ophthalmologist.
Wearing contacts may make one look cool but
if it’s your first time wearing them, there will be a discomfort that would
most likely last for 10 minutes max. However, if the discomfort persists if
would be highly recommended that one should see an ophthalmologist. This is
because one may be allergic or have eye defects without knowing it or your eyes
are not really suitable for contact lenses at all.
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| Aiyana AkaSakura as Sakura Kinimoto. She's wearing Berry Lens Charm Green |
A few more notes for the first timer:
Carefully follow the cleaning instructions
for your lenses. Keep your lenses and all supplies very clean and do not for get to clean you hands before inserting or even removing your contact lenses.
Use the lens care system your eye
specialist recommends. Do not mix products, because they may not be compatible.
Never use homemade saline solutions. (They can be easily contaminated with bacteria.)
Never wet your lenses with saliva or place
lenses in your mouth. The bacteria that are naturally present in your mouth may
cause an eye infection.
Always rinse the lens storage case and let
it air-dry to avoid contamination. Never use tap water to rinse or store your
lenses.
Visit your eye doctor once a year to check
the condition of your lenses and the health of your eyes.
Contact lenses, especially soft lenses, may
absorb eye drops, which can cause problems. If you use eye medicines, leave your
lenses out for about 30 minutes after using the eye drops.
Decorative color lenses can cause eye
problems, such as damage to the cornea or eye infections, just as easily as
contact lenses worn for vision correction. To avoid eye problems, be sure to
follow the directions for cleaning and wearing these lenses.
Enjoy!
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