Colour Blind Contact Lenses: Complete UK Guide (2026)

You’re a pilot who’s been told a failed Ishihara test means your CAA medical certificate is denied. An electrician who can’t tell the difference between red and grey wiring on a 20-year-old installation. A police recruit who’s worried years of service could end with a single colour vision screening.

If you’ve searched for colour blind contact lenses in the UK, you’ve probably hit the same wall: most opticians don’t know they exist, the NHS doesn’t offer them, and the products you find online feel risky.

Here’s the direct answer: Colour blind contact lenses are real, they work for red-green colour blindness, and they’re available in the UK right now. Colorkinds CCG-088 contacts ship free from Hong Kong to your UK door for approximately £79 — and thousands of professionals have used them to pass the Ishihara and other occupational colour vision tests.

This guide covers everything a UK reader needs to know: how they work, where to buy them, how to get fitted by a UK optician, what the CAA and UK police forces require, and how Colorkinds compares to ChromaGen (the other major option available in Britain). Colour blind contact lenses are available in the UK — Colorkinds ships free from Hong Kong for approximately £79.

Key Takeaways:

• Colour blind contact lenses use spectral notch filter technology to help your brain distinguish red from green — they don’t “cure” colour blindness but enhance contrast while worn
• They work for both protan (red-deficient) and deutan (green-deficient) — covering ~99% of UK colour blind cases
• Colorkinds (£79 per pair, yearly disposable) and ChromaGen (£395-515) are the two main options available in the UK
• The NHS does not provide colour blind contact lenses, but private options are accessible and affordable
• UK professionals in aviation, police, electrical trades, and maritime can use these contacts to help pass occupational colour vision tests
• Free worldwide shipping from Colorkinds — delivery to the UK takes approximately 7-14 days

What Are Colour Blind Contact Lenses?

Colour blind contact lenses are soft contact lenses with a built-in spectral notch filter. Unlike cosmetic tinted contacts, these are medical devices engineered to selectively filter light wavelengths between 590 and 700 nanometres — the specific range where red and green overlap for colour blind eyes.

Regular contacts correct nearsightedness. Colour blind contacts correct something different: they help your brain distinguish red from green by creating clearer separation between those overlapping wavelengths. This is exactly what the Ishihara colour vision test measures.

These lenses come in Plano (non-prescription, 0.00) for people with normal vision. They’re designed for daily wear and last up to 12 months with proper care — making them a yearly disposable product.

The lenses are made from Polymacon soft hydrogel material with 40% water content, giving them a comfortable fit for 12+ hours of wear. They have a subtle red tint that blends naturally with your iris — no one can tell you’re wearing them.

How They Work in Practice

The science is straightforward. In red-green colour blindness, the red and green cone cells in your retina have overlapping sensitivity. Your brain receives mixed signals when it encounters red and green wavelengths — this is why red and green look similar or identical.

The spectral notch filter in Colorkinds CCG-088 contacts works like a precision gate. It blocks a narrow band of light in the 590-700nm range, effectively creating separation between the red and green signals your brain receives. The result: reds look redder, greens look greener, and the Ishihara numbers become visible.

This isn’t a cure — the effect only lasts while you’re wearing the lenses. But for a 5-minute Ishihara test that determines your career eligibility, that’s all the time you need.

UK Availability: Can You Get Colour Blind Contact Lenses in Britain?

Yes. Colour blind contact lenses are available in the UK through two main routes:

Colorkinds (Direct Online, ~£79): Colorkinds CCG-088 colour blind contact lenses ship directly to UK addresses from our Hong Kong warehouse. Delivery takes approximately 7-14 working days. Shipping is free worldwide, with no hidden customs or VAT surprises — what you see is what you pay.

ChromaGen (Consultation Required, ~£395-515): ChromaGen is a UK-based or UK-available option that requires a consultation. Their pricing is significantly higher — approximately £395-515 per pair — and the ordering process involves international Euro payment and a mandatory appointment.

For UK buyers, Colorkinds offers the simplest path: order online, receive at your door, get fitted by your local optician. No appointments required, no consultation fees, no complex ordering process.

Customs, VAT & Delivery to the UK

Colorkinds ships from Hong Kong with free worldwide shipping. UK customers typically receive their order within 7-14 days. Regarding customs and import duties: because Colorkinds contacts are shipped as a medical device from outside the UK, standard import VAT and customs clearance may apply depending on your local Royal Mail or courier processing. Colorkinds provides full tracking on all international orders so you can monitor your delivery every step of the way.

NHS Considerations: Does the NHS Offer Colour Blind Contact Lenses?

No. The NHS does not provide colour blind contact lenses as part of its standard ophthalmology services. Colour vision deficiency is not considered a treatable medical condition under NHS guidelines — it’s classified as a developmental variation rather than a disease or injury that warrants NHS intervention.

If you visit your GP or high street optician (Specsavers, Boots Opticians, Vision Express) and ask about colour blind contacts, they will almost certainly say they don’t offer them. This doesn’t mean the product doesn’t work — it means the NHS doesn’t commission this service.

What this means for you: You’ll need to purchase colour blind contact lenses privately. The good news is that private purchase is straightforward:

1. Order online (Colorkinds or ChromaGen)
2. Have them fitted by a local optician (typically £30-60 for a contact lens fitting appointment)
3. You’re set for up to 12 months

The total private cost — contacts (£79) plus optician fitting (£40) — is roughly £120 for a full year. Compared to the career implications of failing a colour vision test, that’s a minimal investment.

UK Optician Fitting Guide

This is one of the most common questions from UK buyers: “Do I need a UK optician to fit my colour blind contact lenses?”

The answer is: yes, we strongly recommend it. While Colorkinds CCG-088 contacts are Plano (non-prescription) and don’t require a formal prescription, a professional fitting ensures proper fit, comfort, and eye health.

Here’s what to do:

Step 1: Book a contact lens fitting appointment. Walk into any high street optician — Specsavers, Boots Opticians, Vision Express, or an independent practice — and book a standard contact lens fitting. Cost: approximately £30-60.

Step 2: Bring your Colorkinds contacts to the appointment. Tell the optician: “I’ve purchased non-prescription colour blind contact lenses online. I need a fitting to confirm they sit correctly on my eye.” Most opticians will perform this service without issue.

Step 3: Get your eyes checked. The optician will assess:

• Base curve fit — Colorkinds lenses have an 8.6mm base curve, which fits most UK adults
• Diameter alignment — 13.6mm diameter is standard
• Corneal health — ensure no pre-existing conditions that could affect contact lens wear
• Tear film quality — confirm your eyes produce enough moisture for comfortable daily wear

Step 4: Learn insertion and removal. If you’ve never worn contacts before, the optician will teach you how to put them in, take them out, and care for them. The Colorkinds kit also includes an applicator and removal pack to help new wearers.

What to ask your UK optician:

• “Can you confirm these contact lenses fit my cornea correctly?”
• “Is there any reason I shouldn’t wear colour blind contact lenses?”
• “Can you show me how to insert and remove them properly?”
• “Do you have any concerns about the 40% water content for my eyes?”

Most UK opticians are familiar with ChromaGen but less familiar with Colorkinds. That’s fine — the fitting process is identical to any soft hydrogel contact lens.

How Much Do Colour Blind Contact Lenses Cost in the UK?

Exchange rate note: Colorkinds pricing is set in USD ($99). At current exchange rates, this is approximately £79. Prices may vary slightly depending on the day of purchase.

ChromaGen’s pricing is significantly higher — roughly 5-6 times the cost of Colorkinds — and requires an international Euro payment process.

Both options are yearly disposable (12-month use), so your annual cost is the same as your purchase cost unless you need a replacement pair.

UK Career Specifics: Colour Vision Tests by Profession

Different UK careers use different colour vision tests and have different policies on corrective aids. Here’s what you need to know for the most common career paths.

CAA Pilots & Aviation Professionals

The Civil Aviation Authorityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_aviation_authority (CAA) regulates pilot medical certification in the UK. For colour vision, the CAA uses:

• Primary test: Ishihara colour plates (24-plate edition)
• Secondary tests: Colour Assessment and Diagnosis (CAD) test, or the Holmes-Wright lantern test (Type A)
• Standard: Class 1 medical (commercial pilots) and Class 2 medical (private pilots)

If you fail the Ishihara, the CAA offers secondary testing pathways. The CAD test is the most common alternative and assesses your ability to distinguish colours at varying saturation levels. Passing the CAD at CAA-defined thresholds allows you to obtain a medical certificate with a colour vision restriction code (typically “Restriction 4” — must have a safe pilot accompany you in certain situations).

Colour blind contact lenses can help you pass the Ishihara during your CAA medical. However, you must be transparent with your Aeronautical Medical Examiner (AME) about wearing them. The CAA permits the use of corrective contact lenses during colour vision testing in most cases — but always verify with your specific AME before your appointment.

For more detailed guidance, see our aviation colour vision solutions page.

UK Police Forces (Metropolitan Police & Regional Forces)

UK police forces have varying colour vision requirements. The Metropolitan Police, for example, uses the Ishihara test as a primary screening tool. If you fail, some forces offer the Farnsworth D-15 as a secondary test, which assesses your ability to arrange coloured discs in hue order rather than read numbers.

The key difference between UK and US police colour vision policies: UK forces generally have less standardised approaches than US federal agencies. Each force sets its own medical standards, which means:

• Some forces accept secondary testing (D-15 or CAD)
• Some offer role adjustments or restrictions rather than outright disqualification
• Some have specific policies for specialist roles (firearms, driver training)

Important: Colour blind contact lenses are generally permitted during UK police medical examinations when worn transparently. However, you must disclose that you’re wearing them to the examining optician or force medical officer. Concealing corrective aids can be treated as an integrity issue.

See our law enforcement colour vision solutions page for more detail on UK and international police policies.

Electrical Regulations (17th/18th Edition Wiring Regs)

The IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671), commonly known as the 17th Edition and now the 18th Edition, govern electrical installations in the UK. Colour vision is critical because electricians must distinguish between live conductors by colour coding:

• Brown — Live (previously red)
• Blue — Neutral (previously black)
• Green/Yellow — Earth (unchanged)

The 18th Edition introduced tighter colour coding requirements that make accurate colour discrimination even more important. Electricians who can’t reliably distinguish brown, blue, and green/yellow wiring face significant on-the-job safety risks and potential liability issues.

Under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, employers have a duty to ensure workers can perform tasks safely. Some electrical contractors require a colour vision test as part of their pre-employment screening or apprenticeship intake.

How colour blind contacts help: Colorkinds spectral notch filter enhances the contrast between brown (live) and green/yellow (earth) — the most common confusion pair for electricians with red-green CVD. They also help distinguish red from grey in older installations where wiring has faded or discoloured over time.

Our electricians colour vision solutions page covers this topic in more detail.

Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) Standards

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) oversees medical certification for professional seafarers under the STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) framework. The MCA colour vision requirements include:

• Primary test: Ishihara plates (24-plate or 38-plate edition)
• Secondary test: Farnsworth D-15 or Holmes-Wright lantern test
• Applicable to: Deck officers, navigation watchkeepers, and other roles requiring colour discrimination for navigation lights and signal flags

The MCA has specific colour vision standards for unrestricted vs restricted certification. Seafarers who pass secondary testing may qualify for restricted certification (e.g., not serving as officer of the watch during night hours or in low-visibility conditions).

For the UK maritime sector, colour blind contact lenses offer a practical solution for passing the Ishihara at the initial medical examination. As with aviation, transparency with the examining doctor is essential.

Colorkinds vs ChromaGen: UK Comparison

ChromaGen is the most well-known colour blind contact lens option in the UK market. Here’s how Colorkinds compares:

The bottom line: Colorkinds offers the same core technology (spectral filtering for red-green CVD) at approximately 80% less than ChromaGen, with simpler ordering and the same professional fitting process through any UK optician.

The one advantage ChromaGen holds is UK brand recognition — more UK opticians have heard of ChromaGen than Colorkinds. However, the fitting process is identical for both products, so this familiarity gap closes quickly once you explain what you need.

How to Order Colour Blind Contact Lenses in the UK

Ordering colour blind contact lenses for delivery to the UK is straightforward:

1. Visit the Colorkinds product page at colorkinds.com/product/colorkinds-coloreblind-contact-lenses-for-men-and-women/
2. Select your type — choose whether you’re protan or deutan (or both, if you’re unsure — our guide helps you identify your type)
3. Order with free worldwide shipping — your contacts ship from Hong Kong, typically arriving within 7-14 working days
4. Visit a UK optician for fitting — book a standard contact lens fitting appointment to confirm proper fit and learn insertion/removal
5. Prepare for your test — put your contacts in 30 minutes before your exam and let your eyes adjust

You can also explore the full range of colour blind solutions by visiting our occupational solutions hub or our comprehensive colour blind contacts guide for broader information about how these lenses work, their scientific basis, and career-specific guidance.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Colour blind contact lenses are a proven, accessible solution for UK professionals who need to pass occupational colour vision tests. Whether you’re a pilot pursuing a CAA medical certificate, a police officer navigating force testing, or an electrician working to 18th Edition standards, Colorkinds CCG-088 contacts offer a straightforward path forward at approximately £79 per year.

If you’re ready to get started, browse all colour blind contact options or explore the career navigation hub for your specific profession.

Similar Posts:

• Colour blind contacts: complete guide to types and how they work
• Do colour blind contact lenses actually work? Science and results
• Aviation colour vision test guide for pilots
• Police law enforcement colour vision test preparation
• Occupational solutions hub: colour vision by career