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From: mms@utgpu.UUCP
Newsgroups: sci.med,alt.cyberpunk,misc.misc
Subject: Re: Contact lenses in mirror-finish
Message-ID: <1987Nov10.215917.27888@gpu.utcs.toronto.edu>
Date: Tue, 10-Nov-87 21:59:17 EST
Article-I.D.: gpu.1987Nov10.215917.27888
Posted: Tue Nov 10 21:59:17 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 12-Nov-87 05:51:20 EST
References: <7675@reed.UUCP>
Reply-To: mms@gpu.utcs.UUCP (John J. Chew III)
Organization: The Poslfit Committee
Lines: 37
Xref: utgpu sci.med:3193 alt.cyberpunk:160 misc.misc:1875
Checksum: 38720
Summary: don't think so.

In article <7675@reed.UUCP> tim@reed.UUCP (Timothy R. Flanagan) writes:
> I am interested in getting contact lenses with a mirror finish like
> some sunglasses.  I understand that it is now possible to get 
> contacts which give one's eyes a color *lighter* than one's original
> color.  I have dark brown eyes, for instance, but I could get lenses
> which would make my eyes look light blue.  Given this fact, is it not
> therefore possible to make contacts which make my eyes chrome, i.e.
> mirror-shades?  I am absolutely serious.  Think of it at a sort of
> "fashion statement".  
> 
> What is it that makes a contact lense a different color?
> How is it that one can cover up one's natural color with a lighter one?
> How does this affect one's sight?  (is it like looking through dark
> 	glasses all the time?)
> Can this be done with both hard and soft contact lenses?
> Assuming I had prescription lenses made with a metallic finish, how
> 	much would they cost?

I looked into this a few years ago, and came to the conclusion that
this wasn't yet possible.  All contact lenses are slightly tinted
with a material that is mixed in with the actual lens material (i.e.
not a coating).  This is to compensate for some unexplained phenomenon
that causes people to perceive the world through untinted contacts
as "too bright".  For cosmetic purposes, this tint can be intensified
and does result in some reduction in perceived light intensity.

Any mirror-shades would have to actually have a coating on one side
of the lens, which raises all sorts of problems.  You have to find
a coating that is reasonably oxygen-permeable, non-toxic and non-
irritating and that won't dissolve with prolonged exposure to your
eyes.  I couldn't think of such a material, but if anyone can,
let me know!
-- 
john j. chew (v3.0)                       poslfit@gpu.utcs.toronto.edu
+1 416 463 5403 (300/1200 bps)            poslfit@utorgpu.bitnet
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