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.

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. These tests will evaluate eye focusing, eye teaming, depth perception, color vision, peripheral vision, and the response of your pupils to light. The doctor will also measure your eye’s fluid pressure to check for glaucoma, evaluate your retina and optic nerve, and test your vision with different lenses to assess whether contact lenses can improve your vision.

Then, a discussion about your contact lens preferences.

If contact lenses are appropriate for you, it’s time to talk about your contact lens preferences. For example, how often do you plan to wear contact lenses? Would you prefer daily disposable lenses or extended wear? 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.

Next, the eye doctor will conduct eye surface measurements.

Contact lenses require precise measurements of your eyes to fit properly. Using an instrument called a keratometer, your doctor will measure the curvature of your eye's cornea, the clear front surface of your eye. The doctor may want to change contact lens types based on the fit and stability of the lens.

You may also need a tear film evaluation.

If you have dry eyes, your eye doctor may perform a tear film evaluation to measure the amount of tear film on the surface of your eye. If your tear film is insufficient or you have chronic dry eyes, contact lenses may not be a good option for you. However, some newer contact lenses are better equiped to maintain moisture on the surface of the eye, making them a better choice for individuals with dry eye issues.

Its 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. He/she will check the alignment and movement of the lenses on the surface of your eye

Now it’s your turn to test it out.

Your doctor will usually have you wear the trial lenses for a bit to ensure a good fit. If the contacts work well, you may order a larger supply of the lenses using your new prescription. If not, you may return for a follow-up exam to try alternatives.

​​​​​​​If this is your first contact lens exam, don’t worry. Our optometrist will answer all of your questions as you go. Just be sure to let us know ahead of time, so we can allow extra time in your appointment for the consultation and any specialized tests.