What to Expect During a Contact Lens Exam?

What are Contact Lenses?

Contact lenses are very thin discs of glass or plastic placed directly on your eye to correct vision. These lenses come in two types; soft and rigid glass, permeable or hard. They can correct vision as well as glasses.

If you have been wearing glasses or want to wear contacts, you need a contact lens exam before getting contact lenses. This exam ensures that you get a pair of lenses that fits both eyes properly, and the new lenses do not harm your eyes’ health.

A contact lens exam includes a comprehensive eye exam, a contact lens consultation, a contact lens fitting, and a trial and prescription.

Your personal preference and lifestyle determine the type of contact lenses suitable for you. For example, if you opt for soft contact lenses, you may choose daily wear lenses, daily disposable, or extended wear lenses. Both hard and soft lenses can be colored or clear. You may also choose bifocal or multifocal lenses to correct faraway and up-close vision.

Steps During a Contact Lens Exam

1. Comprehensive Eye Exam

You will require a comprehensive eye exam before a contact lens exam in Calgary, AB, to check for signs of eye or health conditions. Apart from checking for diabetes, hypertension, and glaucoma, your eye doctor will perform tests to check your vision sharpness and fluid pressure in the eyes.

A comprehensive eye exam will also be used to examine how your eyes work together and determine the prescription strength.

2. Contact Lens Consultation

This step will discuss lifestyle and health issues that could impact the most suitable type of contact for you with your eye doctor. You will consider options such as whether you need hard or soft contacts, daily or monthly disposables, and colored or clear lenses. Eye conditions like dry eye syndrome, near and farsightedness will be considered so that the specialist can recommend lenses for maximum comfort and vision needs.

3. Contact Lens Fitting

This step is important since one size of contact lens does not fit everyone. You must get individualized contact lenses to avoid discomfort, damage to the eye, or blurry vision. Next, a contact eye exam is done to determine which contact lenses are right for you.

The optometrist will carry out special tests to evaluate your vision and how it will change with contacts.

Your eye doctor will take measurements that will help in properly fitting your lenses.

Some of the measurements taken are:

Iris or pupil size

This test is important for patients who want specialized lenses. The size of your pupil or iris is measured using an instrument known as a biomicroscope.

Corneal curvature

The specialist uses a keratometer to measure the curvature of the front eye surface or the cornea. This contact lens eye test determines the correct curve for the contact lenses. For instance, patients with an eye condition known as astigmatism do not have a perfectly round cornea and will require a special type of lenses.

Tear film evaluation

A contact lens exam in Calgary, AB, is not complete without a tear film evaluation. This test ensures that the patient has sufficient tear film to keep contact lenses moist and comfortable. Inadequately hydrated lenses are uncomfortable and make your eyes feel itchy and irritated.

If you suffer from dry eye syndrome, this test will indicate it, and you will get special types of lenses that will help maintain moisture in your eyes.

4. Contact lens Trial and Prescription

After the contact lens fitting and contact eye exam, you will be assisted in trying a pair of contact lenses. This is to help you confirm the comfort and fit so that you can correctly order yours. The lenses are inserted in your eyes for 15-20 minutes, and the eye doctor will examine the fit, movement, and tearing.

Once a perfect fit is obtained, your new lenses will be ordered. Care and hygiene instructions such as the duration of wearing them, how to wear and remove them, and how to store them are provided. You will schedule a contact lens checkup to ensure that your lens fits properly and your eyes are adjusting as required.

At Premier Eye Care, we make each patient is comfortable throughout the exam process. Make an appointment with us for the right combination of frame and lenses that help to achieve comfort and confidence.