Red contact lenses have exploded in popularity, largely due to anime. Long gone are the days when people would only wear funky colored contacts on Halloween.
Today, there are more uses for certain colors, including improving vision and clarity. Don’t believe me? Even sports stars are figuring out the benefits! Let’s go through some of the top uses of these contacts.
The History of Red Lenses
Colored contact lenses began gaining traction in the 1970s, when soft hydrogel lenses were introduced. This made contacts significantly more comfortable and wearable than earlier rigid designs.
As the technology improved, colored and special-effect lenses became increasingly popular in the film and TV industry. Red contact lenses were used in sci-fi and horror movies, such as It, Dracula, The Omen, and Twilight.
The contacts allowed actors to morph into mythical beings, such as werewolves and vampires. They also let the actor show off their expressions and emotions in a way that looked more authentic.
Halloween Popularity (The Vampire)
Who hasn’t seen Twilight? Love it or loathe it, the vampire series, along with other hit shows such as The Vampire Diaries, made these bloodsuckers all the rage among tween audiences worldwide. For years, vampires have been a popular choice for Halloween costumes and cosplay.
Red contact lenses are a great choice for a vampire Halloween costume. In general, red lenses make for the perfect freaky look.
Red Lenses and the Anime Boom
Anime has arguably become one of the biggest trends (maybe even bigger than the Twilight/tween drama era). It’s won the hearts of teens and adults thanks to its unique visuals and deep storylines.
So much so that anime costumes are taken much more seriously than Halloween. This isn’t about playing dress up. It’s about self-expression and embodying the character.
Some characters that work with red contact lenses include:
- Akame from Akame Ga Kill! has seriously deep red eyes, and they suit her persona and dark hair.
- Sukuna, the villain from Jujutsu Kaisen, has eyes that turn when he possesses the main character Yuji’s body. It shows the power of changing eye color in the anime world.
- Dio Brando from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure has red eyes, which suit the vampire character.
MLB Player Jake Burger and Sports Science
Red contact lenses aren’t just for cosplay, though!
Major League Baseball player Jake Burger showed another use for these contacts. The Texas Rangers player was spotted on the field (in a now viral video) wearing red contact lenses.
The goal? To brighten things up so he can see the ball better while playing in closed-roof stadiums, such as Seattle and Houston.
What’s the logic behind this trick? Sports stars wear red lenses (including sunglasses lenses) to improve depth perception and color contrast. However, it’s not verified that red contact lenses have the same effect.
Another theory is that they look intimidating to opponents!
The Risks of Colored Contacts
Although fun and unique colored lenses, including red contact lenses, have become all the rage, there are risks.
It can be tricky to find red contact lenses. Major brands like Alcon and Bausch & Lomb don’t typically offer this color. Because of that, more and more brands are popping up that make fashion colored contacts tailored to anime and Halloween. But not all of these brands are reliable or reputable.
It’s important to double-check that the contacts you’re buying are FDA-approved. Many brands are made and shipped from overseas, but in the U.S., you’ll need a prescription to buy colored contacts.
It’s not worth trying to bypass the regulations to buy them from abroad without a prescription. Instead, make an appointment with your eye doctor to get a contact lens prescription. You can then ask your eye doctor for recommendations on where to buy red contacts.
Even if you have perfect eyesight, you still need a prescription. Your doctor will likely prescribe Power 0 plano contact lenses, which won’t have any medical use.
Dodgy contact lenses can cause serious problems, including blurred vision, eye infections, and even worse. That’s why even if you’re only planning to wear them for a few hours, it’s not worth the gamble.
Reliable Brands that Make Other Colored Contacts
If you’re a cosplayer planning multiple costumes, you may also want to buy a few different types of colored contact lenses. There are many popular brands that manufacture colored contacts.
As previously mentioned, Alcon makes AIR OPTIX COLORS, which have been in production for over a decade. They’re monthly contacts, and they’re a good option for those who value all-day comfort. The contacts are made of breathable silicone hydrogel, making them good for those with dry eyes.
Then there’s Olens contact lenses, a South Korean brand growing in popularity in the U.S. They’re made using Puscon, which is an FDA-approved material. However, since they are shipped from overseas, they may take a long time to arrive. They are also subject to shipping and customs fees. So it depends on whether that’s worth it for you.
TL;DR
Red contact lenses have been growing in popularity thanks to the anime boom and Twilight. Remember when vampires were really huge 15 years ago?
- Although red lenses have been around for decades, they were mostly just used by actors.
- Today, they are easy to order and ideal for costumes, including superheroes/villains and anime characters.
- Red contacts have become more comfortable as technology has improved, making them ideal for longer wear.
- Even Major League Baseball player Jake Burger of the Texas Rangers was spotted on the field wearing red contact lenses to improve brightness and clarity (or intimidate his opponents).
- The main thing is to ensure that you’re buying colored lenses from a reputable, FDA-approved retailer. Dodgy contact lenses can damage your eyes, so get them fitted and prescribed by an eye doctor (which is the law in the U.S.).
