Eye Exams for Contact Lenses
Contact lenses are a great alternative to wearing eyeglasses. If you decide to opt for contact lens wear, it is very important that the lenses fit properly and comfortably and that you understand contact lens safety and hygiene. A contact lens exam will usually include a comprehensive eye exam to check your overall eye health, your glasses prescription and then a contact lens consultation and measurement to determine the proper lens fit.
The Contact Lens Consultation
The contact lens industry is always developing contacts to be more comfortable, convenient and accessible. Therefore, one of the initial steps in a contact lens consultation is to discuss with your eye doctor some lifestyle and health considerations when contacts are prescribed.
Some of the options to consider are whether you would prefer daily disposables or monthly disposable lenses, as well as soft versus rigid gas permeable (GP) lenses. If you have any particular eye conditions, such as astigmatism or dry eye syndrome, your eye doctor might have specific recommendations for the right type or brand for your optimal comfort and vision needs.
If you are over 40 you may need bifocals to see close objects Your eye doctor may recommend multifocal lenses or a combination of multifocal and monovision lenses for you.
Contact Lens Fitting
One size does not fit all when it comes to contact lenses. Your eye doctor will need to take some measurements to properly fit your contact lenses. Contact lenses that do not fit properly could cause discomfort, blurry vision or even damage the eye. Here are some of the measurements your eye doctor will take for a contact lens fitting:
- Corneal curvature
- Pupil diameter
- Tear film evaluation
Follow-up
Your eye doctor may request that you schedule a follow-up appointment to check that your contact lenses are fitting properly and that your eyes are adjusting properly. If you are experiencing discomfort or dryness in your eyes you should visit your eye doctor as soon as possible. Your eye doctor may decide to try a different lens, a different contact lens disinfecting solution or to try an adjustment in your wearing schedule.
Contact us today to schedule your contact lens exam and fitting.
