Contact Lens Fitting
If you’ve never worn contact lenses before, it can seem a bit intimidating. After all, you’re inserting something into your eye! 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.
1. It begins with a comprehensive eye exam.
Your eye doctor will first determine your overall eye health and vision. This includes a discussion of your health history and then a series of standard eye tests.
2. Then, a discussion about your contact lens preferences. For example, do you want to enhance or change your eye color? Would you prefer daily disposable lenses or overnight contacts? Ask about the benefits or drawbacks of each, so that you make the best decision. If you’re over 40, your doctor will likely discuss age-related vision changes and how contact lenses can address these issues.
3. Next, the eye doctor will conduct eye surface measurements.
Contact lenses require precise measurements of your eyes to fit properly. Your doctor will measure the curvature of your eye's cornea, the clear front surface of your eye.
4. You may also need a tear film evaluation. If your tear film is insufficient or you have chronic dry eyes, that may need to be treated first to ensure good comfort and vision with the contacts. Many newer contact lenses deliver moisture to the surface of the eye, making them a better choice for individuals with dry eye issues.
5. 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. The alignment will be checked and the 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.
6. Now it’s your turn to test it out. Your doctor will usually have you wear the trial lenses for a week. After that, you’ll have a short follow-up exam to confirm that the lenses are working well for you and you can then order a supply of contact lenses. If this is your first contact lens exam, don’t worry. Choose a qualified optometrist and they’ll answer all your questions as you go. Just be sure to let them know you’re interested in contact lenses so that they know to allow for extra time in your appointment for the consultation and any specialized tests.