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Colored contacts permit a person to enhance, or even change, his or her eye color. Until 2005, buying colored contact lenses did not require a prescription. However, the purchase of a color contact lens now requires a prescription due to many incidents of adverse effects, and the potential for significant eye injury. These adverse events have been caused by poor fit, defective manufacturing, consumer misuse, and the transfer of 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 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 contacts should not be shared between friends, or used by kids without proper professional advice. Cosmetic contacts must be cleaned and cared for with the same diligence and care as corrective contacts, including appropriate disinfection, routine cleaning, and careful storage between use.

As with corrective lenses, coloured contacts are available in a variety of forms from twenty-four hour lenses to monthly lenses. Some coloured contact lenses have additional protection against harmful ultraviolet radiation from sunlight. Colored lenses differ from typical corrective vision lenses in the addition of tints to the area of the lenses 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" makes the contact more visible for easier insertion and removal. Visibility tints do not enhance 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 intensify their natural color.

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

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

Whether a someone's purpose for wearing contact lenses is purelycosmetic, purely corrective, or a mix of both, receiving a proper examination and prescription from a eye care professional is a critical first-step to ensuring long-term enjoyment of the product without taking a chance of damaging your eyes.