Colored contact lensesallow a person to enhance, or even change, his or her eye color. Until 2005, purchasing colored contact lenses did not require a prescription. However, the purchase of a color contact lens currently requires a prescription due to many incidents of adverse effects, and the potential for serious eye injury. These adverse events have been caused by poor fit, defective manufacturing, misuse, and the sharing of contacts which had of harmful bacteria.

Therefore, the color contact lens is no longer classified as an unregulated cosmetic device. They are regulated by the FDA as medical devices regardless of whether or not the contact lenses give any vision correction. Dealers that sell the color contact lens in the U.S. without requiring a prescription are in violation of the law.

Because of the chance of infection, cosmetic contact lenses should not be swapped among friends, or used by kids without proper professional consultation. Cosmetic lenses must be cleaned and cared for with the same diligence and care as corrective contact lenses, including appropriate disinfection, routine cleaning, and careful storage between use.

As with corrective contacts, coloured contacts are available in a variety of forms from twenty-four hour lenses to monthly lenses. Some coloured contact lenses provide additional protection against harmful ultraviolet radiation from sun. Colored lenses differ from typical corrective vision contact lenses in the addition of tints to the region of the contacts overlaying the iris. The iris is the naturally colored, circular part of the eye surrounding the dark pupil where light enters. Four different types of tints are added.

A "visibility tint" simply makes the lens more visible for easier insertion and removal. Visibility tints do not alter the eye color. Somewhat more pronounced in color, "enhancement tints" are designed to enhance the natural color of the iris. Enhancement tints are often used by folks with lighter colored irises who wish to enhance their natural color.

The "color tints" are intense tints designed to dramatically change the color of the iris. Colored tint lenses completely change a person's eye color, as a person might change her hair color. These contact lenses are also commonly used with holiday theatrical costumes, Halloween costumes, and sporting-event fan costumes.

The last category of lens tints, the "light-filtering tints". They are designed to make objects of certain colors stand-out in bright light. These contact lenses are employed much like vision-enhancing sunglasses.

Whether a person's reason for wearing contacts is sheerlycosmetic, purely medical, or a mix of both, getting a proper eye exam and prescription from a eye care professional is an essential first-step to ensuring long-term pleasure of the product without taking a chance of damaging your eyes.