Tips & Tricks

What Are Circle Lenses?

March 25, 2008

Spotted all over fashion and beauty magazines, on celebrities and models, Circle Lenses, have been the it thing in Asia for the past couple of years now.


Circle lenses are basically cosmetic color contact lenses with a black rim on the outside (hence the name circle) to create the illusion of bigger, brighter eyes. They come in a variety of colors like black, brown, gray, violet, blue and green and are usually disposable (ranging from daily to yearly). You can get them with or without prescription and certain brands like G&G even carry ones for astigmatism.

Currently, companies that manufacture circle lenses are Bescon (Tutti, Hypa, Freeteen), G&G (BT, AMIE, I.Fax), Dueba (Barbie), Migwang (Aryan, Aines), Acuvue (Acuvue Define), and FreshKon (FreshKon Alluring Eyes). These are all FDA and CE approved.

Like contact lenses, wearing circle lenses has its risks too. In fact, some experts say they are potentially more unsafe because their larger diameter means less oxygen can enter your eyes which can result in drier eyes. Plus like regular color contacts, the color pigments in circle lenses can cloud vision when the contacts shift.

Below are some Asian celebrities/models wearing circle lenses:

Model Angelababy


Singer Elanne Kwon


Model Leah Dizon

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39 Comments

  • Reply Jenahx84 March 25, 2008 at 12:33 pm

    I purchased 3 circle lens from circlelens2u.com and they arrived within 1-2 weeks. However of the 9 years that i’ve been using contacts, and only one having scratched my cornea slightly, after using the DM23 grey circle lens, i had an eye infection – there were several small bumps that formed into one ( not extremely big, but still noticeable )Of course immediately after the first day that the redness did not go away i went to an optometrist who then advised that i go off contacts for at least 2 weeks. He assumed that my pupils were not getting enough oxygen because of the larger diameter size than regular contacts, and also noting that they might not be properly sanitized to begin with. Thus concluding, a sore eye , two trips to the doctors, a dent on my nosebridge from wearing glasses and $200+ down the drain from the visits. =*(

  • Reply Anonymous March 25, 2008 at 2:10 pm

    those look so cute, i love the blue ones…hmm i’d be kinda sketched out though about what it could do to your eyes…

  • Reply Karen March 25, 2008 at 5:23 pm

    Have I told you I actually saw Angelbaby in person? She was sitting right beside me at a salon having her hair and makeup done… I wonder what she looks “naturally”… lol… coz those circle lens and huge dense fake lashes totally transformed her. While she was getting her makeup done, she took off her lashes.. and wow, she looked totally different!

  • Reply Anonymous March 25, 2008 at 5:36 pm

    Oh they look gorgeous! The wide-eyed effect is really visible. Do the lighter colors (like green or purple) show up well on dark brown eyes?

    I remember your entry on classic makeup (with Dita fon Teese), would you be interested in doing another one with some tips on how to make the look more modern & wearable? I love Liz Taylor’s look
    (like here
    http://images.suite101.com/228307_gp_liztaylor_1080.jpg
    )
    and I’m a fair-skinned brunette and have very similar eyebrows and mouth shape – yet each time I try to copy the look, I end up looking overpainted. 🙁

    ~Annabel

  • Reply Linda March 25, 2008 at 7:27 pm

    Yikes I guess I was lucky. I have a pair by Geo Nudy in this gold/brown color and I never had any problems.

  • Reply Anonymous March 25, 2008 at 11:38 pm

    I also love the blue contacts!

    Is there a way to find out which particular brand of blue she wore?

    I’m also skeptical on the risks..then again I could just wear it less. I hope my eyes dont look too big when i wear circles, mine already get big wearin regular contacts.

    And I just wanna say how awesome u are to do CP’s phyllis! Thx 4 taking ur time to help us non-asia connections. =]

  • Reply Anonymous March 26, 2008 at 12:18 am

    thanks for the info phyllis! u remind me of sherman chung at times. i wear hard contacts, which sucks. 🙁 they look so nice.

  • Reply Anonymous March 26, 2008 at 5:19 am

    What is Angelbaby wearing? Any ideas?

  • Reply Anonymous March 26, 2008 at 11:42 am

    makeup request. check email. thx!!

  • Reply Anonymous March 26, 2008 at 1:48 pm

    Phyllis, please please do the breakdown on Angelababy’s look. It’s so cute! ^___^

  • Reply olivi March 26, 2008 at 5:43 pm

    wow! i googled the people and angelababy is like my new favorite asian celeb! her eye makeup is gorgeous~from all the xanga photos she posted. i like her dark liner light blush and pink lip gloss thang she does.

  • Reply nhixbaybee March 26, 2008 at 6:50 pm

    i’d like to order some circle lenses in green =)

  • Reply Anonymous March 27, 2008 at 1:21 am

    HI! how much are the lenses? im interested in brown and gray..

  • Reply Anonymous March 27, 2008 at 7:05 pm

    have you personally tried the circle lenses and if so, have you experienced any problems with them? i am also interested in the price. thanks!

  • Reply Kit March 29, 2008 at 9:06 am

    I really like the blue lenses, Do they do soft lenses?

  • Reply Anonymous March 29, 2008 at 10:41 pm

    omg, i’ve been looking for forward to buying these but i haven’t been able to find someone over the net to help me purchase them from asia..i can’t wait to get them from you!

  • Reply Anonymous March 29, 2008 at 10:48 pm

    wow, at first glance of the first picture, i thought it was you! your smile and eyes look so much like sherman! you’re so pretty, *envy*

    do have a Soompi SN right? i swear i saw you on soompi forums…

    oh yea, do you accept concealed cash? i’ve been trying to get circle lens since last summer and your the only source i can get them from only if you accept concealed cash.

  • Reply Anonymous March 30, 2008 at 3:30 am

    Phyllis~ do you know which one Leah Dizon is wearing? I always wanted to know.

  • Reply IchigoBunnie April 1, 2008 at 4:53 pm

    man..i really wish I can get some of those circle lenses, or just color contacts in general, but like you mentioned in your post, it’s really not the healthiest things for your eyes.

    I asked my optometrist assistant about me considering color contacts, just thinking about it. And he told me to not even try thinking about them because over constant use of color contacts over the years, they slowly make your vision worse–even if you have perfect vision to begin with. Not only that, but they feel more uncomfortable due to the color put into the lenses (exactly like what you said,makeupforlife, less oxygen to the eyes).

    *sigh*…i wish there was actually color contacts out there that are just as safe as regular clear contacts.. 🙁

  • Reply Gao April 2, 2008 at 4:45 pm

    Are you going to do the CP soon? If so, I want to try G&G’s circle lens for astigmatism since they’re the only ones who have anything like that. Thanks for the offer!

  • Reply Anonymous April 2, 2008 at 5:56 pm

    Hey!
    I’m really interested in ordering some contacts. I will be checking this site for more info.
    Thanks!

  • Reply Anonymous April 2, 2008 at 8:34 pm

    Please do Bescon Tutti collection please!! I really want to wear it in grey for prom.

  • Reply Anonymous April 2, 2008 at 10:23 pm

    omg! i want a pair! those look HOTTTTT I would love those in grey! I have always used grey contacts for some reason, I like them better than blues or greens.

    hope you can get your hookup soon! =D

  • Reply Phyllis April 3, 2008 at 12:19 pm

    I have not tried circle lenses but I wear color contacts on a daily basis now and I have never experienced any problems. Like I said, there is a risk in wearing contact lenses period. It all depends on the person. I would highly suggest you check with a doctor before you purchase them.

  • Reply Connie April 7, 2008 at 6:36 pm

    I’m thinking of trying contacts to make my eyes look bigger. my recommended a full black contact but I’m worried that my eye shape being so small the black contacts would be to over-powering. So, would these black circle lenses work better? I want bigger looking eyes but not scary looking. lol

    thanks!

  • Reply Page April 22, 2008 at 11:53 pm

    Do you have perscription blue circle contacts for size B.C 8.3?? I have had trouble finding that size so I would definitely be interested if you have them! thanks!

    =)

  • Reply Anonymous May 7, 2008 at 10:30 am

    i would like to purchase circle-lenses. black. I live in Illinois…dont know where else i can get them. Please help me. Im so amazed!

  • Reply Anonymous June 27, 2008 at 11:25 pm

    what brand of circle lens is Elanne Kwong and Angelababy wearing?

  • Reply Anonymous July 12, 2008 at 3:53 pm

    r these ‘circle lensse’ removalbe? and will in do the eyes harm???

    ?….? be if it is i would be REALLY scared if i used them!

  • Reply Anonymous July 16, 2008 at 2:54 pm

    Does anyone know where to buy/order circle lenses fast and trustable ? If so, pls tell me O__O I’ve been searching for quite long but I think it would be good if u guys gave me some recommendations ^^ THX !!

  • Reply Anonymous August 18, 2008 at 5:54 am

    Hello! Could you tell me where to buy G&G circle lenses for astimagtism? how much will it cost roughly? thank you very much! 🙂

  • Reply Anonymous September 6, 2008 at 3:50 pm

    So are all the circle lens bad for your eyes?

  • Reply julie September 10, 2008 at 7:38 am

    after 10 years of wearing USA FDA-approved contact lenses without any problems, i decided to jump on the bandwagon and bought circle lenses from Korea. after 2-3 months of wearing the circle lenses daily (or almost daily), i started to have eye problems. first, my vision changed temporarily (and it came back to normal after i stopped using circle lenses). then, stupid me.. started wearing them again. now, my vision did change again but my eyes became very sensitive and almost resistant to contact lenses in general (even the USA-FDA approved lenses i wore for years). even after giving my eyes rest for 3 weeks w/ glasses, my eyes have not returned to their normal strong health (meaning, before.. i didn’t have to take care of my eyes that much and didn’t have problems). now, the only circle lenses i trust are Acuvue Define.

    i suggest if you girls are going to get circle lenses regardless of the stories you hear (from people like me), PLEASE do not wear them daily. i’ve been through torture because my eyes began to get red a lot.. even after discontinued use of the circle lenses. =***(

  • Reply joanne September 14, 2008 at 1:29 pm

    do you have circle lenses with astigmatism?

  • Reply Anonymous September 24, 2008 at 1:33 pm

    I don’t think these circle lens are good for the eyes. First of all, it seems to STRETCH OUT the eyes so much. Wouldn’t your eyes become all stretched out and really saggy after wearing it for a while?

    Plus it makes people look so unnatural, kind of freaky.

    Want big eyes? try eye lid surgery!

    If not, try the fake eyelash approach.

  • Reply She Pink October 13, 2008 at 9:52 am

    i live in japan and i tried the grey circle lenses like leah dizon is wearing..and they are hot.
    fake lashes just dont do the trick.
    your whole look transforms once u put in the circles!

    i only limit to wearing them on nites out tho to give my eyes a breather.

    to the person who offered the advice about eye-surgery!? that would be my LAST resort!
    if u are wanting to try circles DO IT – u will have so much fun with ur new look!
    i suggest grey for those with light brown eyes..and brown for those with dark brown.

  • Reply koji October 27, 2008 at 5:24 am

    do not buy tutti contact lense, why? because polymacon material is recommend for monthly disposible, but they print 3 months disposible on the the package. if u do not believe polymacon material is for monthly disposible, u can check from FDA -usa.

    there are quite a number of irresposible lens distributor in the world. they change the package and print 3 months disposible on the package. Be smart when u want to buy lenses. I promote healthy lifestyle and do not follow fashion blindly.

  • Reply jo October 16, 2009 at 2:50 am

    aftefr wearing cfircle lenses for about two weeks, i noticed my eyes were smaller and even lighter in color…
    has anyone else experienced this?
    and is there a way to reverse the damage?
    especially is there a way i can get my eyes back to their
    dark shade?

    • Reply ida October 24, 2010 at 8:11 am

      me too.
      I experienced the same thing..
      it freaked me out a bit..
      I also want to know if there is a way to reverse it..

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