On the hunt for tinted contact lenses? There are a few different types available!
Some tinted lenses are very subtle, while others are big and bold. But which type is right for you? I’ll walk you through the different options and some of my top picks for tinted lenses.
The Different Types of Tinted Contact Lenses
Tinted contact lenses are contacts that have a colored dye mixed into the lens material. The dye in the lenses can be bold or subtle, depending on the type of contact.
Here are the three types of tinted lenses:
Lenses with visibility tints
Visibility tint lenses don’t alter your natural eye color. They feature a faint light blue or green tint that helps make contacts easier to see and handle. No more fumbling around, trying to figure out where the contact is in its blister pack!
Enhancement lenses
Enhancement lenses are a good option for people who want to try changing the appearance of their eyes but prefer an understated effect. These are meant to intensify your natural eye color.
For example, they might make blue eyes a deeper or more striking shade of blue. However, they may not be as effective for people with darker-colored eyes.
Opaque contact lenses
Opaque tint contacts use solid, non-transparent pigments to completely alter your eye color. Because the lenses are opaque, and no light passes through the dyed part of the lens, they even work well for those with dark eyes.
If you’ve ever wanted to see what you’d look like with a whole new eye color, opaque tinted contacts can make it happen. They’re particularly popular for Halloween costumes and cosplay outfits.
Do You Need a Prescription for Tinted Contact Lenses?
Yes, you’ll need a prescription to buy tinted contact lenses. The USDA classifies all contact lenses as medical devices. This includes ‘plano’ (non-corrective) lenses.
If you want to try tinted lenses, see an eye doctor first. An eye doctor will do a fitting and give you a prescription you can use.
Only buy your tinted lenses from retailers that require a prescription. In some situations, improperly fitted or poor-quality lenses can cause infections or other eye problems.
Tinted Contact Lens Options
Now, let’s go through some of the top options for tinted lenses. I’ll walk you through a few options with visibility tints and some colored lens options.
Contact Lenses With Visibility Tints
ACUVUE OASYS Max 1-Day
ACUVUE OASYS Max 1-Day contact lenses have a slight blue-green visibility tint that makes them easier to handle. These daily lenses feature TearStable™ Technology, which is designed to lock in moisture for all-day comfort. In addition, they have an OptiBlue™ Light Filter that filters approximately 60% of blue-violet light.
On EZContacts, verified buyers are generally happy with the contacts. One reviewer wrote:
“Wow, beautiful teal blue tint, I have all day crisp vision till bedtime the very moment taking them off, plus fast shipping, very pleased.”
Dailies AquaComfort Plus
Dailies AquaComfort Plus contacts have a light blue visibility tint that’s designed to make them easier to see in a blister pack. It also helps make them easier to insert.
The daily contacts are made from Nelfilcon A, a material that contains 69% water, which helps keep your eyes comfortable all day.
In addition, these contacts have Blink-Activated Moisture Technology. This feature releases a moisturizing agent to keep your tear film stable.
On EZContacts, the reviews for AquaComfort Plus are mixed. Katherine R. shared that she liked the contacts and found the visibility tint helpful:
“These contacts are the best I have ever worn and I barely know that I am even wearing contacts. They are very slightly tinted blue, which is a huge help when putting them in, especially if you drop one. I highly recommend them.“
Adi N. wasn’t as big a fan of the contacts, though. However, she did mention that the tint was one of the features she liked:
“Not a huge fan but since my prescription is for this brand I’ll have to stick it out for now. I do like that they have a little tint to them so its easy to spot them in their little containers unlike my other bausch and lomb softlens I wore before.”
Contact Lenses With Colored Tints
Now, let’s go through some colored contact lens options.
AIR OPTIX COLORS
The AIR OPTIX COLORS monthly contact lenses are popular because their silicone hydrogel material is highly breathable, keeping eyes comfortable. They also have high oxygen transmission and 33% water content.
AIR OPTIX COLORS contacts feature three color rings. There’s an inner ring for brightness, a primary ring that infuses color, and an outer ring that creates distinction and draws attention to the iris. Together, these rings give a natural-looking enhancement to the eyes.
Air Optix Colors come in 12 color options, including multiple shades of blue, brown, green, and gray. Not sure which color you want to try? Alcon allows you to virtually try on all shades to see how they look on you.
These lenses are recommended for daily use; you’ll want to clean and store them each night. They should be replaced after 30 days.
Reviewer Lesly A. praises AIR OPTIX COLORS for their comfort and appearance:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Love them!
“Love them they feel so comfy and the color looks so natural not fake!”
Some users reported fit issues or blurriness, and others disliked how a particular color looked on their eyes. However, many reviewers still recommended the AIR OPTIX COLORS for style and comfort.
FreshLook ColorBlends
FreshLook ColorBlends are also made by Alcon and come in the same variety of colors as AIR OPTIX COLORS. So what’s the difference?
The answer is: 0.3 mm.
While AIR OPTIX COLORS have a 14.2 mm diameter, FreshLook ColorBlends feature a 14.5 mm diameter.
If you’re thinking that doesn’t sound like a big difference, you might be surprised at how the lenses actually look when worn. The slightly larger lens of ColorBlends creates a big-eyed look that some reviewers love.
Reviewer Shantelle D. wished she’d tried them sooner:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Love these contacts! I was hesitant about trying them at first, now im sorry I waited!! I have dark brown eyes that are very hard to cover or change, gemstone green actually gave me a noticable change in eye color… I will be ordering more!”
Others felt the lenses were flimsier than AIR OPTIX or didn’t hold up as well. It’s also important to note that FreshLooks has been discontinued. However, there are still stocks available at some eyewear retailers, including EZContacts.
Dailies Colors
Dailies are a great option if you want to enhance your natural color, but for most people, they won’t produce a significant color change. They come in four shades: Mystic Blue, Mystic Green, Mystic Gray, and Mystic Hazel. We’re sensing a theme here!
Dailies Colors are daily contacts that are very breathable, and many people choose them for comfort and affordability.
Some wearers noted that Dailies don’t have much effect on brown eyes, and they produce only mild changes for other eye colors. If you have darker eyes or want to go several shades away from your natural eye color, they probably won’t be a good fit.
Reviewer Diana M. calls Dailies “a good mix of comfort and color,” preferring them over AIR OPTIX:
“I was glad to learn that Dailies are available in colors, because I have been wearing Air Optix for years. Dailies are much more comfortable. As far as color goes, the Air Optix in Pure Hazel definitely lightens my brown eyes, and I think the color looks natural… I will trade the less pigment for greater all-day comfort.”
Choosing Tinted Contact Lenses
Tinted lenses can work well for many contact wearers. If you sometimes struggle with handling contacts, a contact with a visibility tint could help you. Or, if you want to experiment with your eye color, colored contact lenses are a good choice.
If you have any questions about tinted contacts, talk to your eye doctor. They can help you find the right contacts for you!
TL;DR
- Tinted contact lenses can accentuate your natural color or change it completely, depending on which kind you choose.
- There are contact lenses with visibility tints, enhancement tints, and opaque tints.
- Visibility tints are subtle and help make it easier to handle and put in contacts. Enhancement tints intensify your natural eye color. Opaque tints alter your eye color.
- You need to get a prescription to buy tinted contact lenses. You’ll want to see an eye doctor to get fitted for contact lenses, and only buy from reputable retailers.
- Some options for contacts with visibility tints include ACUVUE OASYS Max 1-Day and Dailies AquaComfort Plus.
- Some options for colored contact lenses include AIR OPTIX COLORS, FreshLook ColorBlends, and Dailies Colors.
