Circle Lenses, the doe-eyed lens

Circle lenses are undoubtedly a controversial topic. Some of you may have read news stories claiming that circle lens can cause blindness within 24 hours, then watched personal interviews claiming that are perfectly safe to wear.

The lenses give wearers a childlike, doe-eyed appearance. The look is characteristic of Japanese anime and is also popular in Korea. Fame-seekers there called “ulzzang girls” post cute but sexy head shots of themselves online, nearly always wearing circle lenses to accentuate their eyes.

At this time, it is illegal in the United States to sell any contact lenses (corrective or cosmetic) without a prescription, and no major maker of contact lenses in the United States currently sells circle lenses.

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.

Are circle lenses safe?

All contact lens 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.

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.

Can people with prescription wear circle lenses?

Yes. Most circle lenses do come with prescription. Only a few styles are only available in plano.

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.

Circle Contact Lenses Safety Tips

• Always see your optometrist before and after purchasing circle lenses. Only a trained optometrist can tell you whether your eyes are healthy or deteriorating. Also, most circle lenses are not designed for people with astigmatism, so this is an issue you want to consider before buying circle lenses.
• Wear circle lenses for no more than 4-6 hours at a time. (For example, many of our members wear lenses for only a few evenings per week.)
• Clean circle lenses thoroughly after each use. Wash your hands before handling lenses or touching your eyes.
• Take note of the duration of your circle lenses (typically six months or a year) and dispose of them accordingly.
• Buy your circle lenses from reputable sources, as illicit lenses do exist throughout Asia. The circle lenses purchased by most of our members are manufactured and sold in Korea, which often come with an “anti-fake” verification code. These verification codes are not a fail-proof indication of safety, but they will reliably inform you about whether your lenses came from legal manufacturers in Korea. Although Soompi does not endorse any particular vendor, you can ask individual members for their recommendations regarding reputable sources.
• Minors in particular should take special consideration before wearing circle lenses. It is generally considered safe for teenagers to wear contact lenses, but eye development still occurs when one is under the age of eighteen.