Contact Lens Exam

If you’ve never worn contact lenses, it can seem intimidating. After all, you’re inserting something into your eyes! Let’s ease your mind about the first step – your contact lens exam. This post will walk you through what’s involved in a contact lens exam and what you can expect every step of the way.

It begins with a comprehensive eye exam.

First a determination of your overall eye health and vision is necessary. This includes discussing your health history and a series of standard eye tests. These tests will evaluate eye focusing, eye teaming, peripheral vision, and pupils' response to light. After a complete assessment of your eye health, your vision will be evaluated with different lenses to assess whether contact lenses can improve your vision.

Then, a discussion about your contact lens preferences.

If contact lenses suit you, it’s time to discuss your preferences. For example, would you prefer daily disposable lenses or overnight contacts? Ask about the benefits or drawbacks of each so that you can make the best decision. If you’re over 40, the normal age-related vision changes and the many options of how contact lenses can address these issues is fully discussed. 
 

Next, the eye doctor will conduct eye surface measurements.

Contact lenses require precise eye measurements to fit properly. Your doctor will measure the curvature of your cornea, the clear front surface of your eye, using a keratometer. 
 

You may also need a tear film evaluation.

If you have dry eyes, your eye doctor will perform a tear film evaluation to measure the amount of tear film on the surface of your eye. If your tear film is insufficient or you have chronic dry eyes, contact lenses may not be a good option. However, some newer contact lenses deliver moisture to the eye's surface, making them a better choice for individuals with dry eye issues.
 

It's time for the contact lens fitting.

The final step is to fit you with a trial pair of contact lenses. Once inserted, your eye doctor will examine the lenses in your eyes to ensure a good fit. They will check the alignment and movement of the lenses on the surface of your eye, and if the fit looks good, the last step is to ensure the prescription is correct with a few more tests.
 

Now it’s your turn to test it out.

Your contact lens exam has ended, but if this is your first time wearing contact lenses, you will need to come back. Your doctor will give you trial lenses to wear for a week. After that, you will have a brief follow-up exam to ensure the lenses work well. Once confirmed, you can order a supply of contact lenses. Opt for a qualified optometrist who can assist you with any questions you may have. Be sure to inform them that you are interested in contact lenses so they can allocate extra time for the consultation and any specialized tests.