Question: I am looking for the popular Circle Lenses but are concerned about safety. Most of the ones I see do not look FDA approved. Is it safe to order these?
Answer: Personally I would never recommend purchasing a non FDA approved contact lens. I would also never buy a lens from a flea market, gas station, or an internet site that claims you do not need a prescription. Who do you think is monitoring their health practices? I can’t speak for other countries, but in the US contact lens manufacturers go through very strict testing to be able to produce and sell contact lenses. That is for all of our safety.
With that said, there is a contact lens on the US market that is FDA approved and has a very similar look to the circle lenses that are currently very popular in East Asian markets. The Equinox lens has a black limbal ring that enlarges the appearance of your iris. I have fit a number of these and am always impressed with the results. I especially like that it shows a persons natural iris color and texture rather than covering it up. In short, the equinox lens looks real.
As far as lenses in the Asian markets, I really can’t comment. I am sure they are very safe, I just don’t know which purchasing channel you would have to go through to get the safe ones. Otherwise, how do you know you didn’t just buy a contact lens that is already contaminated?
