What Does a Contact Lens Exam Entail?

Contact lenses are a vision correction option for people who do not want to wear eyeglasses. While some people wear contacts as their primary vision correction source, others only wear contacts for various occasions. The lenses offer flexibility and convenience for everyone. If you choose to wear contacts, you must ensure they fit properly and understand how to care for them. 

Comprehensive Eye Exam

A contact lens exam begins with testing to determine your vision and health condition. A comprehensive eye exam is vital, whether you have vision problems or not. The exam can help detect eye conditions, and it also helps check vision quality.

 

Using the test results, the doctor will determine your lens prescription. The eye doctor will check for eye health issues that can make it difficult to wear contact lenses. 

 

Consultation 

After the comprehensive eye exam, your doctor will discuss vision correction options. Contact lens manufacturers are constantly developing new lenses using advanced innovations to make lenses more comfortable.

 

During the consultation, the doctor will ask about your health and lifestyle and discuss considerations that impact contact lens choice. You can decide if you prefer daily disposable or reusable contacts. You can choose between soft lenses and rigid gas-permeable lenses. The doctor will recommend the best lenses if you have special eye needs.

 

Contact Lens Fitting  

It is vital to know that contact lenses are not one-size-fits-all. The eye doctor will need to take measurements to ensure your lenses fit properly. When contacts fail to fit, they can cause eye discomfort, blurry vision, and eye damage. Some of the measurements taken include:

 

• Corneal curvature

• Pupil and iris size

• Tear film evaluation
   

Contact Lens Trial 

After determining the best contacts, the doctor will give you trial lenses to confirm the fit and comfort. You will try on the pair before the doctor finalizes and orders your lenses. You will keep the lenses in for 15 to 20 minutes, allowing your eyes to adjust. The doctor will examine the fit, lens movement, and eye tearing.

 

This helps determine if you will get the best results from the lenses. If the lenses are a good fit, the doctor will order your lenses. You will receive instructions on inserting and removing the lenses, care and hygiene, and duration of wear.

 

Follow-up Appointment

After the contact lens exam, you will need to schedule a follow-up appointment. The visit will allow the doctor to check if the lenses fit properly and if your eyes adjust well. If you experience dryness or discomfort when wearing the lenses, you should visit the doctor as soon as possible. The doctor can determine whether you need different lenses, an adjusted wearing schedule, or a different lens solution.  

 

If you have hard-to-fit eyes or an eye condition, the doctor can recommend specialized contact lenses. Customized lenses ensure comfort and improved vision. Taking good care of your lenses through proper cleaning, disinfecting, and storage will help protect your vision and eye health. 


 

For more about contact lens exams, contact Eye Care Associates in San Bernardino at our San Bernardino, California office. Call (909) 316-2100 to schedule an appointment today.