Circle Contact Lenses Craze Inspired by Lady Gaga

Lynn Mason
Fashion trends have long been affected by hot celebrities. Even when the new look is fake. The latest trend seems to be circle contact lenses inspired by Lady Gaga's doll like look in her "Bad Romance" video. Her eyes were digitally altered in the video to make them appear larger and more doe-like. Fashion conscious teens and young adults are copying the look with illegally sold circle contact lenses.

Inspired by Japanese anime cartoons

Circle lenses are imported from Asia. The large lenses cover part of the whites of the eye, making the pupil appear larger. The cartoonish look has become very popular in Japan, Singapore, and South Korea.

Circle contact lens dangers

Because of the risks involved with wearing contact lenses, they are illegal to sell in the U.S. without a prescription. Prolonged wear can lead to infections which in rare cases could lead to blindness in as little as twenty-four hours. Ill fitting lenses can scratch the cornea and lead to vision problems.

Circle contact lenses readily available

Circle contact lenses are available all over the internet for $20 to $30, even though they are illegal in the U.S. The non-FDA approved eyewear comes in a variety of wild colors from pink to violet. These websites do not require a prescription and allow the buyer to choose size and strength of the contact. Because they are illegal, circle contact lenses are not regulated for safety or quality.

Good Morning America reports that young girls are collecting different colors and changing them like earrings. A YouTube video by make-up artist Michelle Phan showing step-by-step how to use the contacts has had over nine and a half million hits.

Decorative contact lens safety tips

The FDA offers this advice for those wishing to wear decorative lenses:

-Get an eye exam from a licensed eye care professional, even if your vision is perfect.

-Get a valid prescription for strength and size of lenses.

-Purchase lenses from a licensed eye care professional or vendor with your prescription.

-Follow all directions for cleaning, disinfecting and wearing the lenses.
sources:
www.emaxhealth.com
http://abcnews.go.com

Published by Lynn Mason

I am a wife and mother to two teenagers, a cat and a dog. I have been a special education paraprofessional for ten years. We live in rural Il. and I love the country. I enjoy gardening and I'm an avid, obses...  View profile

12 Comments

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  • Debbie Gavazzi8/4/2010

    I've yet to see what these look like. Thanks for sharing your article.

  • Michelle Caton7/15/2010

    I've never heard of these circle contact lenses. Interesting article!

  • Alice7/11/2010

    I've been wearing circle lens for more than 3 years and my eyes are perfectly fine! Lady Gaga did NOT start this trend! Korean/Japanese people did and they ARE in fact FDA approved, there is nothing wrong with them!

  • stephanie7/10/2010

    I've been wearing these circle lenses for 3 years, way before Lady Gaga became popular, so no, Lady Gaga did not inspire this trend. Most of us "kids" are well aware that her eyes in the music video were created through digital technique. These lenses are exactly the same size as normal lenses, the only different is they are not approved by FDA. They're safe, or as safe as any type of lenses can get, if the user is using them properly.

  • Vincent Summers7/9/2010

    I never have heard who this Lady Gaga thing is. Sounds like I'm not missing out on anything...

  • Langley Cornwell7/8/2010

    Yikes, this is scary stuff. Great topic.

  • Candice L. Collins7/7/2010

    silly kids, they'll do anything to be fashionable, even if it means harming themselves!

  • Patricia A. Ziegler7/7/2010

    They sound very dangerous to me.

  • Karen Sanders7/7/2010

    It's times like this when I'm glad I'm not a teenager anymore - peer pressure to wear silly things is long gone! I'm sure those contact lenses are very cute and all but not worth the risk of damaging eyes!

  • Linda Louise Johnson7/6/2010

    Lynn, it is just amazing that kids will take chances like this with their vision! Great article topic!

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