Switching from clear contact lenses to colored versions feels like it should be the same routine with different-looking lenses. It mostly is. But a few things surprised me.
I wore clear prescription lenses for three years before trying colored contacts. The first day with colored lenses, my eyes felt the same but the visual experience was noticeably different. Here is what I wish someone had told me before I made the switch.
Your Peripheral Vision Changes Slightly
Colored contacts have a clear center for your pupil and a colored ring for your iris. The transition between these two zones creates a subtle edge in your peripheral vision that clear lenses do not have. It does not affect your central vision at all. In your first hour of wear, you may notice a faint ring at the edges of your vision when looking to the side. Your brain adjusts to it within a day or two. After a week, you will not notice it at all.
The Enlargement Effect Takes Getting Used To
Yilala lenses are 14.5mm in diameter. Standard prescription lenses are typically 14.0mm. That extra half-millimeter extends the colored portion past your natural iris onto the white of your eye. When you look in the mirror, your eyes look slightly larger. Friends will notice something different about you but may not identify what it is. The effect is intentional and natural-looking, but it is a change from clear lenses that sit entirely within your iris border. Earl Series and Muse Series have the most subtle enlargement of any Yilala lens — a good starting point if you want the color change without the size change.
Cleaning Is Exactly the Same
This surprised me. The care routine for colored contacts is identical to clear contacts. Same multi-purpose solution. Same nightly rub-and-soak routine. Same replacement schedule. The only difference is that the pigment in colored lenses makes debris slightly easier to spot during cleaning. Read the full care guide here.