The Best Contact Lens Styles in Film and TV

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The use of contact lenses in the UK has declined among the younger generations but remained stable among older adults. Contact lens use for 18 to 24-year-olds and 25 to 30-year-olds makes up only 14% and 19% of the contact lens market, respectively. On the other hand, 25% of older adults aged between 45 to 54 and 22% of those 55 and above still use this form of prescription eyewear.

However, the one place contact lenses have retained their popularity is in the film and TV industry. They have been used for decades as a tool for special effects and makeup, effectively bringing characters to life.

When it comes to contact lenses in film and TV, these are just a few examples of how they shine on screen…

Maleficent

The use of contact lenses in Maleficent is by no means innovative, but it shows just how much they can help with special effects. Jolie, who plays the titular character, wears multiple lenses for her role. In many scenes, she is seen with yellow irises; in others, her eyes have Maleficent’s trademark green hues. The striking shade of Maleficent’s stare would only be possible through effects.

Anyone who wants her look can easily get green-coloured contact lenses online to achieve a similar look. Air Optix’s gemstone green and SofLens’ emerald shade from their Natural Colors selection are great emulations of this iconic contact lens look from the film. Remember to get the right prescription from your physician and get the contacts fitted before you try this style yourself.

Maleficent’s use of contact lenses offers a good foundation for showcasing how this eyewear can add to a character on screen.

Guardians of the Galaxy

Marvel is no stranger to changing the appearance of its characters with contact lenses. This is most obvious in the space-based trilogy Guardians of the Galaxy. With many inhuman characters on the show, eyewear has been used to represent otherworldliness visually. Characters like Drax, Mantis, and Nebula all have their trademark appearances when it comes to their eyes.

Drax’s pale blue eyes almost blend in with his similarly coloured body, while Mantis and Nebula have completely blacked-out irises. These features not only add to the overall look of the characters but also contribute to the atmosphere and lore of the film. The integration of popular contact lens styles into characters’ more human-like designs has also made them popular choices for cosplayers.

The use of contact lenses in Guardians of the Galaxy is a masterclass of how the accessory can be seamlessly added to a film to build on its aesthetics and lore.

Black Mirror

Known for its dystopian themes, Black Mirror excels in showcasing how technology can negatively take over our realities. In one of the first season’s episodes, Entire History of You, people are able to see their memories through a cosmetic implant called grains. They can record moments exactly as they happened, like a camera, which helps people relive their memories as is.

In the show, the grains are portrayed like contact lenses where the irises retain colour, but the pupils are a cloudy white. Black Mirror uses them not only for aesthetic choice but also as a means of storytelling. It’s obvious when characters use their grains with the contacts serving as visual cues. It was also made into great commentary on how modern technology can push a disconnect between people and their realities, which is something the grains were made in the opposite of.

Black Mirror shows that contacts can be used for more than special effects; they can also advance a story.

Contact lenses will certainly continue to be useful tools in film and TV. Current shows use them as more than an accessory, so this eyewear can definitely bring more to the table than simple aesthetic appeal.