Contact Lens Exams and Fitting

The field of optometry changes quickly, and now many more patients are able to enjoy the flexibility of wearing contact lenses to correct their vision. Contact lens exams include tests that are not always performed in regular eye exams, so if you are considering contact lenses, be sure to let us know when you schedule your exam. This will allow us to schedule the extra time required for contact lens fitting or prescription updates.

When it comes to a contact lens exam, the eye doctor will need to perform additional tests and procedures to determine whether eyeglasses and contact lenses may be prescribed. Optometrists and ophthalmologists perform these additional tests to evaluate your eye condition with contacts to avoid vision problems.

The first test they will perform will measure the surface of your eye to determine what size and type of contacts will be best for you, and fit your eyes best. The second test is a tear test, which determines whether you have enough tears to wear contacts comfortably to avoid eye diseases in the future.

Choosing an eye doctor and determining the best contact lens prescription for you is based on assessing your individual needs and pairing it with lenses that provide the best comfort, vision and health.  While the majority of contact lenses are safe, complications can arise.

You may discuss with the eye doctor wearing Multifocal Contacts. Multifocal contact lenses are not your grandparents’ bifocals. They are designed to help people who have trouble with their vision, both close up and far away.

This condition is called presbyopia. Because multifocal contact lenses are more complex than normal contacts, it is important to have the perfect fit so you can see as well as possible. It may take a little extra time and cost a little bit more, but it is worth having good vision without needing your thick eyeglasses. This will be determined during your contact lens exam by the optometrist or eye doctor.

Our annual contact lens exam and evaluations determine not only your prescription, but ensure that you will be able to continue to wear contacts for many more years to come.

What to expect during a contact lens exam and fitting

During Contact Lens Exam doctor will determine the best contact lenses that fit your need. With so many contact lens choices, the first part of the consultation is a discussion with your eye doctor about your lifestyle and preferences regarding contact lenses. After the contact lens exam one choice that today’s contact lenses allow you to make is whether you want to change your eye color. Different eye colors are available with contact lenses. Other options include whether you want contact lenses that are designed to be replaced daily or those which can be worn for more extended periods.

Most people choose soft contact lenses for their ease and comfort. However, there are also advantages of hard or what is called rigid gas permeable (GP) lenses. All the specifics will be discussed prior to your contact lens fitting.

Believe it or not, if you need bifocals, you can even opt for multifocal contact lenses or monovision (a prescribing technique where one contact lens corrects your distance vision and the other lens corrects your near vision). Once you have determined the type of contacts you want, the next step is the actual contact lens fitting.

What are Contact Lens Measurements

Just as one shoe size doesn’t fit all feet, one contact lens size doesn’t fit all eyes. If the curvature of a contact lens is too flat or too steep for your eye’s shape, you may experience discomfort or even damage to your eye. Measurements that will be taken to determine the best contact lens size and design for your eyes include:

• Corneal curvature: An instrument called a keratometer is used to measure the curvature of your eye’s clear front surface (cornea). This measurement helps your doctor select the best curve and diameter for your contact lenses.
• If your eye’s surface is found to be somewhat irregular because of astigmatism, you may require a special lens design of lens known as a “toric” contact lens. At one time, only gas permeable contact lenses could correct for astigmatism. But there are now many brands of soft toric lenses, which are available in disposable, multifocal, extended wear and colored versions.
• In some cases, a detailed mapping of the surface of your cornea (called corneal topography) may be done. Corneal topography provides extremely precise details about surface characteristics of the cornea and creates a surface “map” of your eye, with different contours represented by varying colors.
• Pupil and iris size: The size of your pupil and iris (the colored part of your eye) can play an important role in determining the best contact lens design, especially if you are interested in GP contact lenses. These measurements may be taken with a lighted instrument called a biomicroscope (also called a slit lamp) or simply with a hand-held ruler or template card during your contact lens exam.

• Tear film evaluation: To be successful wearing contact lenses, you must have an adequate tear film to keep the lenses and your cornea sufficiently moist and hydrated. This test may be performed with a liquid dye placed on your eye so your tears can be seen with a slit lamp, or with a small paper strip placed under your lower lid to see how well your tears moisten the paper. If you have dry eyes, contact lenses may not be right for you. Also, the number of tears you produce may determine which contact lens material will work best for you.