Looking Younger has a Nice Limbal Ring to it

Written by Dr. David Evans Last modified on August 6, 2018

Throughout my years of research in the eye care industry, youthfulness and good vision have always gone hand-in-hand. Retaining the good vision of our youths (without the aid of glasses) is a goal many of us share. Interestingly enough, not much thought has been given to the eyes’ appearance in terms of maintaining that youthful vigor; rather, the sole focus has been on how they function. Well, I recently learned that the appearance of the eyes may give us an edge in the anti-aging game too. It’s all about the limbal ring.

If you’re unfamiliar, the limbal ring is the area that separates the center clear part of the cornea from the outer portion (opaque portion called the “white of the eye”). Visually it appears as the dark ring that forms around the very outer portion the iris. What’s special about this ring is that it becomes increasingly less distinct as we grow older. This might not seem like a big deal, but look at a side-by-side picture of a 50 year old eye and an 18 year old eye and you might be singing a different tune. Believe it or not, there are actual studies that have equated the darkness of limbal rings and attractiveness.

Colored contact lenses have been around for a long time, but nothing, until now, that targets the color or shape of the limbal ring. What lens manufacturer Acuvue has done is create the first name-brand contact lens that actually darkens the limbal ring, creating a more youthful looking eye. The three Define line lenses were launched in Russia late last year and are expected to be on the market in the US sometime in April of 2015.

I haven’t yet had a chance to see them eye-to-eye, but I think that the idea is fantastic. Crafting a lens that effectively tackles the issue of limbal-ring diminishment is a feat that moves beyond basic eye care and into the high-demand world of facial rejuvenation.

If you’re a contact lens wearer who has flirted with color lens options, or someone looking for minimally invasive ways to keep your youthful looks intact, mark your calendars and be on the lookout for these limbal ring-darkening contact lenses in a few months.