Contact Lens Exams
Contact lenses are a great alternative to wearing eyeglasses. Not everyone wears contact lenses full-time. Each patient is different. Some patients wear contact lenses on weekends, special occasions, or just for sports. This flexibility makes contact lenses a convenient option for different lifestyles.
If you choose contact lenses, proper fit and hygiene are essential for comfort and safety. A contact lens exam includes a comprehensive eye exam to assess your eye health and vision, along with measurements to ensure a proper lens fit.
The Importance of a Comprehensive Eye Exam
Even if you don’t have vision problems, regular eye exams are important to keep your eyes healthy and detect early signs of disease. A comprehensive eye exam at Grove City Vision Center will check the general health of your eyes as well as the quality of your vision. During the exam, your eye doctor will determine your eyeglass prescription, but you may need a separate evaluation for contact lenses. They will also check for conditions that could affect contact lens comfort and wear.
Hard-to-Fit Contact Lens Patients
Even if an eye doctor has told you you are not suitable for contact lenses, we may be able to help. Specialty contact lenses are available for conditions like dry eye and severe astigmatism.
The Contact Lens Consultation
During your consultation, your eye doctor will review your lifestyle, vision needs, and eye health to determine the best contact lenses for you.
You may choose between daily or monthly lenses, as well as soft or gas permeable (GP) lenses. If you have conditions like astigmatism or dry eye, your doctor may recommend specific lens types or brands.
You can also discuss options like colored contact lenses. If you are over 40 and have difficulty seeing up close, your doctor may recommend multifocal or monovision lenses.
Contact Lens Fitting
Proper fit is essential for comfortable, effective contact lens wear. Your eye doctor will need to take some measurements to fit your contact lenses. Contact lenses that do not fit properly can cause discomfort, blurry vision, or eye damage. Here are some of the measurements your eye doctor will take for a contact lens fitting:
Corneal Curvature
Your doctor measures the curvature of your cornea, the front surface of your eye, to ensure your contact lenses fit properly. They use a keratometer for this measurement. If you have astigmatism, your doctor may recommend toric lenses to improve fit and clarity. In some cases, your eye doctor may use corneal topography to create a more detailed map of your eye’s surface.
Pupil or Iris Size
Your eye doctor may measure the size of your pupil or your iris (the colored area of your eye) with an instrument called a biomicroscope or slit lamp, or manually with a ruler or card. This measurement is especially important if you are considering specialized lenses, such as gas permeable (GP) contacts.
Tear Film Evaluation
One of the most common problems affecting contact lens wear is dry eyes. If the lenses are not kept adequately hydrated and moist, they will become uncomfortable, and your eyes will feel dry, irritated, and itchy. Particularly if you have dry eye syndrome, your doctor will want to ensure you have a sufficient tear film to keep the lenses moist and comfortable; otherwise, contact lenses may not be a suitable vision option.
Your doctor performs a tear film evaluation by placing a drop of dye in your eye and examining your tears with a slit lamp or using a small strip of paper to measure moisture levels. If your tear film is weak, your eye doctor may recommend contact lenses that better maintain moisture.
Contact Lens Trial and Prescription
Once your doctor selects the right lenses, you may try them on in the office to confirm fit and comfort before finalizing your prescription. The doctor or assistant will insert the lenses and have you wear them for 15 to 20 minutes, then evaluate their fit, movement, and moisture on your eye.
If the lenses fit well, your doctor will order them for you. They will also provide instructions on inserting, removing, wearing, and caring for your lenses.
Follow-up
Your eye doctor may recommend a follow-up appointment to ensure your contact lenses fit correctly and your eyes are adjusting well. If you experience discomfort or dryness, schedule a visit as soon as possible. Your doctor may adjust your lenses, solution, or wearing schedule as needed.
Contact us today to schedule your contact lens exam and fitting.