by Jan F. Lee
(excerpted from the June 2009 issue of Sister 2 Sister magazine)

Want to make an eye-popping change to your look? Contact lenses can be a great accessory. Ditch your glasses for clear contacts that go with any outfit, or try colored contacts that can give you a whole new attitude—just like a fresh pair of heels. And although there are many misconceptions and fears about contact lenses, they are safer and easier to use than ever, with the proper know-how.
“There is such a large variety in types of lenses made these days,” said Dr. Susan A. Primo, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology of the Emory Eye Center in Atlanta. “Materials are much better,” she added.

One factor to consider is the type of lens material you want. Soft lenses are a prevalent type of contact material made from flexible, gel-like plastics, which make them easier for many wearers to adjust to them. Another popular choice is rigid gas permeable (RGP) contacts made from stiff, waterless plastics—desirable for their durability.

Another thing to consider is how often you’ll be wearing your contacts. Daily wear contacts can be worn all day, but must be discarded each night. Extended wear contacts can be worn anywhere from one to seven consecutive days. With continuous wear lenses, you can go up to 30 days with the same pair. These different replacement schedules allow you to choose the best contacts to fit your lifestyle.

When choosing color contacts, you’ll want to think about how drastic you dare to go. To simply boost your natural eye color, there are enhancement contacts that have a translucent tint. For a complete color change (best for naturally darker eyes), there are opaque colored lenses. Ranging from demure hazel to expressive amethyst, there are plenty of colors for whatever look you’re going for. There are even novelty contacts with outrageous patterns, like a cat eye for that Halloween party you’re going to as Catwoman. Grrrr!

Read the June 2009 issue of Sister 2 Sister magazine for some important information you'll need before you start picking out color contacts.