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Contact lenses have been
used in the movie industry for many years, as far back as 1939, to help create a mood, a
monster or character. So many films have used them recently, Interview With The Vampire,
Wolf, Bram Stoker's Dracula, X-Men, The Grinch, and countless others. Theatrical contact
are also used by many performers in the music industry such as Marilyn Manson and Rob
Zombie to create a stage presence and a strong visual impact to audiences.
Theatrical contacts used to be
very expensive but have now come down in price so that the general public can afford a
pair or two. It's easy to get started, first you need to get an eye exam to be fitted for
contact lenses. Then comes the big problem ........... picking out a pair from the huge
variety available.
Soft contact lenses were
introduced in 1971, making them available for those who had problems with hard lenses.
Recent advances in contact lenses means that most people can wear them, but only
your eye care professional can determine if they are healthy for you. If you follow all
prescribed steps for inserting, removing and caring for them, your contact lenses should
continue to be safe and effective until they expire.
We've searched around on the web
to find the best, fastest and easiest contact lens company to work with and our choice is
FX Eyes. They have fast service and a great selection of lenses to
choose from. What sets them apart is that they also create custom lenses that will meet
your specification if they do not carry what you want.
There are some manufacturers
that mass produce special effects contacts, but FX Eyes
hand paints their own lenses, which means that you'll find some
very unique and original lenses here.
Custom contact lenses can be a
great addition to your costume, but they are still a medical appliance and need to be
treated as such. If they are not cleaned and cared for properly, they can cause eye
infections. Proper care should be taken when inserting them and removing them as well.
Never share your lenses with a friend, this can spread infections. Always
wash your hands before handling your lenses, inserting them and removing them. Keep them in containers
made for lenses and change the solution every 3 months when not in use.
Since you need to see an eye
care professional to have a lense fitting exam, ask them to instruct you on the proper care and
handling of contact lenses. If you've never worn them before, have the doctor show you how
to put them in and take them out a few times before you leave. They can also recommend the
proper solution to use to clean and store them to prevent fading of the lenses. We can't
stress enough the need for proper use. The last thing you want is to ruin your vision in
any way because of improper use of your contact lenses.
We decided to pick out our
favorite pairs of lenses and try them ourselves, to go with some of the costumes and
articles that we will be working on this Halloween season. Our favorite picks were: Manson
Left, Lost Boys, Vampire, Forever Night, White-Out, and a sclera (full cover)
lens called Flames.
Theatrical Contact Q & A
What do I need to
do to get contacts?
First you need to see an optometrist to be fitted for lenses. Since
everyone's eyes are different, you need to know what the diameter and "fit" of
the lens will be. This can only be done by seeing an optometrist so they can measure and
fit the lenses. The doctor will give you a prescription with the info on it, you can use
this to order your lenses on line or from where ever you choose. You'll need to call your
local optometrist for the cost but we've found they usually run around $50.00 to $75.00
for a contact lens fitting.
Where can I buy contact
lenses on line?
There are many places that sell
them on line but we recommend using a reputable company like
FX Eyes to order from. They are very accommodating, will do special
orders, and the turn around time between order and receiving them is fast. They have a
large variety to choose from and can usually make them for you if it's something special
that they don't usually have.
When can I wear special
effects contacts?
Special effects contact lenses can be
worn anytime you want or on special occasions such as Halloween. They can be purchased in
prescription or non-prescription lenses.
Are contacts hard
to take care of?
It differs from lens to lens but most theatrical lenses aren't worn for as long a period
of time as normal vision correction lenses would be. You need to find a compatible lens
cleaner that won't strip the color off the lenses and follow the instruction for cleaning
that are given to you by your eye care professional or lens manufacturer.
Is it okay to wear
someone else's contact lenses?
NO! Sharing contact lenses is not good idea. In fact, it's
dangerous. So, please follow this simple advice: Don't do it. Ever. Sharing contact lenses
can spread micro-organisms that cause infections and other serious eye problems. You might
think that you are saving money by borrowing lenses from a friend but in the long run, it
could be much more costly ........ you could get a serious eye infection or worse, lose
your vision.
Are special effects
contacts expensive?
They can run anywhere from $50.00 a pair to hundreds of dollars depending on the
type and quality of lenses that you choose. There are many manufacturers that mass produce
special effects contacts, they are the lower end and less expensive. We suggest spending a
little more and getting better quality lenses that will last longer and be better for your
eyes. If you need prescription lenses, they will be more costly but you'll be able to see
normally while wearing them. Keep in mind, with proper care, your new special effects
lenses will last until their expiration date. Most lenses have an expiration date, usually
two or three years.
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