Contact lenses are special therapeutic lenses that are worn on the cornea of the eye, either for corrective or cosmetic reasons. While the history of contact lenses (Kontaktlinsen) is as a corrective medical product, they have become very popular as a cosmetic item during recent times, in fact this sort of procedure has become as popular as pearl necklaces (Perlenketten) have in the jewellery sector. Cosmetic contact lenses are designed especially to alter the appearance of the eye, and while they may also correct vision they do not necessarily always do so. In fact, some cosmetic contact lenses may even create some blurring of vision or obstruction of the visual field. However, good quality cosmetic lenses should cause no long term damage if they are not worn too often. Cosmetic contact lenses are also known as decorative contact lenses, and seem to be getting more and more popular all the time.
Cosmetic contacts are often used to change the colour or appearance of the eyes, such as making brown eyes blue or making human eyes appear like cats eyes. Because of these dramatic effects, cosmetic contact lenses are often used by the entertainment industry, where they are sometime known as theatrical contact lenses. They are regularly seen in horror movies, science fiction movies, and zombie movies, and can also be used to simulate the appearance of drug use and disease. Recent times have seen a rise of the use of cosmetic lenses in the regular population, where many people are using them as a fashion accessory similar to a pearl necklace or a new pair of jeans.
One trend that is most active in Japan and South Korea is to wear special cosmetic contact lenses that create the illusion of a bigger, wider iris. These circle contact lenses cover an area that is bigger than the natural iris, and represent one of the trends that is associated with the cosmetic lens industry. The other dominant trend worth mentioning is cosmetic lenses with a different colour to the natural eye colour, so that people can experiment with different colour eyes and even match their eye colour to their outfit or their mood. While cosmetic contact lenses are safe for the most part, it is always worth consulting an optometrist or eye care professional if you plan on wearing them often.