About circle lenses

Since I'm waiting for my pair to come in, I figured I'd post a little bit about circle lenses. This informative post is from Soompi's forum.

What are "circle lenses"?

Circle lenses are cosmetic contact lenses that have a black ring meant to enlare the appearance of the iris. Originally from Korea, these lenses were made popular by ulzzangs ("best-face" celebrities) and pop stars. IE, Kim Namji is very famous for wearing circle lenses, as are most Chinese/Taiwanese "Pretty Girls" (Mei Nur). They give the appearance of clear, doll-like eyes and are available primarily to the Asian market. Brands that cell circle lenses are Bescon (Tutti, Hypa, Freeteen), G&G (BT01, BT02, BT03, AIMEI/AMIE, I.Fax), Dueba (Barbie, Messish), Migwang (Aryan, Aines), Icon, Newvision/Neovision, Newbio, Acuvue (Acuvue Define), and FreshKon (FreshKon Alluring Eyes).

What is the difference between colored and circle lenses?

Both are available in a variety of colors and designs as cosmetic lenses, but regular colored lenses do not have a black ring around the outer edge of the iris. They are meant to change the color of your eyes. Circle lenses are means to make your eyes appear larger with their notable black ring.
Are circle lenses safe?

All contact lens (soft / hard / colored / circle / regular / perscription / nonprescription) are potentially damaging. In the United States, regular contacts need a prescription by a certified optometrist to be obtained because they need to be specially fit to your own eyeball. Cosmetic lenses that have 0.00 power (plano lenses) are legal to sell in the USA without prescription, but most stores require one anyways.

In Asia, contact lenses do not necessarily need to be given by a doctor, nor is a prescription required to buy cosmetic lenses. Circle lenses are particularly seen as unsafe because they are said to be larger in diameter then normal lenses. This allows less oxygen to enter your eyes, often drying natural moisture out and putting strain on them. They also contain color pigment which can cloud vision when the contacts shift.

But the "largeness" of the lenses are relative - brands in America sell contacts with 14.00-14.60 diameter. Circle lense brands are the same. If you wear contacts already, check the information on your own lenses to determine if the circle lenses you want are the proper fit for you.

Almost all circle lenses sold throughout Asia are imported from Korea. Big name brands are usually FDA and CE approved. There are some smaller, unknown companies that produce the lenses, but they are not approved. Most of those companies are non-Korean brands, though not all. Do not buy them if you are unwary of the brand or seller! Always ask the seller all questions before buying :]

**Note: Just because you buy circle lenses in a country like China, Taiwan, Malaysia etc. does not mean you are automatically buying imitation lenses. Just be smart and research before ordering!

Can circle lenses be prescribed?

Yes, they can. They are the same as regular contact lens. If you have 20/20 vision, you can buy non-prescripted/plano/0.00 lenses. If you wear glasses or are unsure of your vision stats, have an eye exam with your local optometrist.Can people with astigmatism wear circle lenses?This depends on the brand and seller. For example, G&G DOES make Circle Lenses for astigmitism, BUT these are not the same as their Circle Lenses or Cosmetic Circle Lenses. Research the brand to find out the best choice so you don't order the wrong kind.

How do I take care of my circle lenses?

You take care of them like any other contact lenses. You should only wear them up to 6 hours at a time and always keep them in a contact lense case with solution when you aren't wearing them. It's very important to put your contact on and take them off with CLEAN HANDS! If your hands are dirty, you can get debris or harmful substances in your eyes which can lead to irritation and even blindness! Wash your hands before putting them in/taking them out and make sure to rub your fingers with contact solution after washing your hands. Clean your lenses before and after you wear them. To clean your lenses, with clean hands, pour some solution onto the lens and rub between your thumb and other finger. When storing, always replace the solution and clean the case so your lenses can soak in fresh, clean solution.

Help! My contacts are hurting my eyes!

TAKE THEM OUT. Are they clean? Did you put them in on the right side? If your lenses are causing discomfort, do not wear them! Remember, they are cosmetic, just like eyeliner or foundation. If your foundation was giving you a rash, you shouldn't wear it anymore. Same as contacts!

Should I put in my contacts before or after applying makeup?

I reccomend putting your lenses on before putting on your makeup. You fingers can easily catch makeup residue and washing them doesn't always get it off. However, if your hands are perfectly clean, it doesn't matter. However, it IS easier to put in your lenses after you've curled your lashes.

How long to these lenses last?

They all depend. You can get them as daily desposibles, weeklys, monthlys, 3-month, 6-month, or 1 year. Ask the seller and check the company website.

Source: http://soompi.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=122581