Contact Lens Exams

A contact lens exam, also known as a contact lens fitting, is a specialized evaluation conducted by an eye care professional to determine the best type of contact lenses for your eyes and lifestyle. Here’s what typically happens during a contact lens exam:

1. Medical History: Your eye care provider will begin by asking about your medical history, including any current or past eye conditions, allergies, medications you are taking, and your lifestyle (e.g., how often you plan to wear contact lenses).

2. Visual Acuity Testing: Similar to a comprehensive eye exam, your visual acuity will be tested to assess your current level of vision with and without corrective lenses.

3. Corneal Evaluation: Your eye care provider will examine the health of your cornea, the clear front surface of your eye. This may involve using a slit lamp biomicroscope to check for any signs of dryness, inflammation, or irregularities that could affect contact lens fit.

4. Measurement of Eye Curvature (Keratometry): This test determines the curvature of your cornea using a keratometer or corneal topographer. It helps in selecting contact lenses that fit properly on your eye.

5. Trial Lenses: Based on the information gathered, your eye care provider will select trial contact lenses that are appropriate for your prescription and eye shape. You may try different types of lenses (e.g., daily disposable, monthly, soft, or gas permeable) to find the most comfortable and effective option.

6. Lens Fit Evaluation: Your eye care provider will assess how well the trial lenses fit your eyes. This involves checking the movement of the lenses, ensuring they cover your cornea adequately, and assessing comfort.

7. Instruction and Education: If you are new to wearing contact lenses or if there have been changes to your prescription, your eye care provider will provide instructions on proper insertion, removal, cleaning, and care of your contact lenses.

8. Follow-Up: After the initial fitting, you may be scheduled for a follow-up visit to ensure that the contact lenses are working well for you and to address any issues or concerns.

9. Prescription: If the contact lenses fit well and meet your visual needs, your eye care provider will finalize your contact lens prescription. This prescription specifies the lens parameters (such as base curve, diameter, and power) needed to order contact lenses.

It's important to have regular contact lens exams even if your prescription hasn't changed, as they ensure the ongoing health of your eyes and the proper fit of your lenses. Properly fitted contact lenses not only improve vision but also reduce the risk of complications such as eye infections or discomfort. Always follow your eye care provider's recommendations for wearing and caring for your contact lenses to maintain good eye health.