a selected pattern of disruptions in the lens material of a soft or hard corneal contact lens or intraoccular lens is provided which substantially disrupts the undistorted transmisability of an image to the lens to render it semi - opaque . preferably , these disruptions are formed by a laser beam which causes the disruptions . the pattern may be used for coding of lens prescription or the like . in another embodiment , a ring may be formed in a soft contact lens of the general shape of the cornea and colored to provide a total color change in the appearance of the iris .