Contact Lens Exam
For many people, contact lenses provide greater convenience and more satisfying vision correction than eyeglasses. Here’s what’s involved in a typical contact lens exam and fitting:
Comprehensive Eye Exam Comes First
Before being fit with contact lenses, a comprehensive eye exam is performed. In this exam, your eye doctor determines your prescription for corrective lenses (just a glasses prescription at this point) and checks for any eye health problems or other issues that may interfere with successful contact lens wear.
If all looks good during your eye exam, the next step is a contact lens consultation and fitting.
What To Expect During A Contact Lens Fitting
The first step in a contact lens fitting is a consideration of your lifestyle and your preferences regarding contact lenses, such as whether you might want to change your eye color with color contact lenses or if you’re interested in options such as daily disposables or overnight wear. Although most people choose soft contact lenses, the advantages and disadvantages of rigid gas permeable (GP) lenses will likely be discussed as well.
If you are over age 40 and need bifocals, your eye doctor or contact lens specialist will discuss ways to deal with this need, including multifocal contact lenses and monovision (a prescribing technique where one contact lens corrects your distance vision and the other lens corrects your near vision).
Trial Lenses
In many cases, trial lenses will be used to verify the contact lens selection. Once the proper lenses are selected, you will be given instructions on how to care for your lenses and how long to wear them. You will also receive training on how to handle, apply and remove the lenses if your are a first-time wearer.
Follow Up Visits Confirm Fit and Safety
Your contact lens fitting may involve a number of follow-up visits so your doctor can confirm the lenses are fitting your eyes properly and that your eyes are able to tolerate contact lens wear. Over all fit, vision and comfort will be taken into consideration before a final contact lens prescription will be written.
Your Contact Lens Prescription
After finding a contact lens that fits properly, is comfortable for you, and provides good vision, your doctor will then be able to write a contact lens prescription for you. As contact lenses are considered a medical device, you prescription will be valid for a year’s supply only.
Routine Contact Lens Exams
Regardless of how often or how long you wear your contact lenses, your eyes should be examined at least once a year to make sure your eyes are continuing to tolerate contact lens wear and show no signs of ill effects from the lenses.
For many people, contact lenses provide greater convenience and more satisfying vision correction than eyeglasses. Here’s what’s involved in a typical contact lens exam and fitting:
Comprehensive Eye Exam Comes First
Before being fit with contact lenses, a comprehensive eye exam is performed. In this exam, your eye doctor determines your prescription for corrective lenses (just a glasses prescription at this point) and checks for any eye health problems or other issues that may interfere with successful contact lens wear.
If all looks good during your eye exam, the next step is a contact lens consultation and fitting.
What To Expect During A Contact Lens Fitting
The first step in a contact lens fitting is a consideration of your lifestyle and your preferences regarding contact lenses, such as whether you might want to change your eye color with color contact lenses or if you’re interested in options such as daily disposables or overnight wear. Although most people choose soft contact lenses, the advantages and disadvantages of rigid gas permeable (GP) lenses will likely be discussed as well.
If you are over age 40 and need bifocals, your eye doctor or contact lens specialist will discuss ways to deal with this need, including multifocal contact lenses and monovision (a prescribing technique where one contact lens corrects your distance vision and the other lens corrects your near vision).
Trial Lenses
In many cases, trial lenses will be used to verify the contact lens selection. Once the proper lenses are selected, you will be given instructions on how to care for your lenses and how long to wear them. You will also receive training on how to handle, apply and remove the lenses if your are a first-time wearer.
Follow Up Visits Confirm Fit and Safety
Your contact lens fitting may involve a number of follow-up visits so your doctor can confirm the lenses are fitting your eyes properly and that your eyes are able to tolerate contact lens wear. Over all fit, vision and comfort will be taken into consideration before a final contact lens prescription will be written.
Your Contact Lens Prescription
After finding a contact lens that fits properly, is comfortable for you, and provides good vision, your doctor will then be able to write a contact lens prescription for you. As contact lenses are considered a medical device, you prescription will be valid for a year’s supply only.
Routine Contact Lens Exams
Regardless of how often or how long you wear your contact lenses, your eyes should be examined at least once a year to make sure your eyes are continuing to tolerate contact lens wear and show no signs of ill effects from the lenses.