Many Indian women accessorize with colored contact lenses

November 19, 2010

While eyeglasses are often used as fashion accessories or to change a look, many young women in India are now changing their appearance and making fashion statements with colored contact lenses.

According to the Times of India, a recent survey found that 50 percent of youngsters in the country associate contact lenses with a glamorous look.

"With girls becoming more fashion conscious, they want to look attractive wherever they go and colored contact lenses dramatically change the look. That is why these have become a much sought after fashion accessory," Preet Paul Singh of Delhi-based Paul Opticals told the news provider.

Some of the colors that contact lenses are available in include green, blue, violet, hazel, black, brown and grey.

While women may choose to coordinate their eyes to their clothing, men often prefer a more natural look when using them.

The American Optometric Association (AOA) says that these non-corrective colored lenses are easily accessible to consumers but should be used with caution.

"Purchasing contact lenses without a prescription can result in serious eye health and vision damage since consumers are not properly educated on cleaning and disinfecting, nor in proper removal and application of the contact lens," said the AOA's Paul Klein, O.D.