Contact Lens Exam

Contact lenses are a great alternative to wearing eyeglasses. Every patient is different, with some patients wearing contact lenses only on weekends, special occasions or just for sports. That is the beauty of contact lens wear, the flexibility it gives each individual patient and their lifestyle.

If you decide to opt for contact lens wear, it is very important that the lenses fit properly and comfortably and that you understand contact lens safety and hygiene. A contact lens exam will include both a comprehensive eye exam to check your overall eye health, your general vision prescription and then a contact lens consultation and measurement to determine the proper lens fit.

The Contact Lens Consultation and Fitting

The contact lens industry is always developing new ways to make contacts more comfortable, convenient and accessible. Therefore, one of the initial steps in a contact lens consultation is to discuss with your eye doctor some lifestyle and health considerations that could impact the type of contacts that suit you best.

Some of the options to consider are whether you would prefer daily disposables or monthly disposable lenses, as well as soft versus rigid gas permeable (GP) lenses, If you are over 40 and experience problems seeing small print, for which you need bifocals to see close objects, we may recommend multifocal lenses. If you have any particular eye conditions, such as astigmatism or dry eye syndrome, Dr. Brown might have specific recommendations for the right type or brand for your optimal comfort and vision needs. if you have had a hard time wearing contacts in the past Dr. Brown specializes in those hard to fit cases.

One size does not fit all when it comes to contact lenses. Dr. Brown will need to take some measurements to properly fit your contact lenses. Contact lenses that do not fit properly could cause discomfort, blurry vision or even damage the eye.

Contact Lens Trial and Prescription

After deciding which pair of lenses could work best with your eyes, Dr Brown may have you try on a pair of lenses to confirm the fit and comfort before finalizing and ordering your lenses. The doctor or assistant would insert the lenses and keep them in for 15-20 minutes before the doctor exams the fit, movement and tearing in your eye. If after the fitting, the lenses appear to be a good fit, we will order the lenses for you. You will also learn hygiene instructions on how to care for your lenses, including how to insert and remove your lenses, how long to wear them and how to store them if relevant.

Follow-up

We will schedule a one week follow-up appointment with Dr. Brown to check that your contact lenses are fitting properly and that your eyes are adjusting properly. If you are experiencing discomfort or dryness in your eyes you should let us know as soon as possible. Dr. Brown may decide to try a different lens, a different contact lens disinfecting solution or to try an adjustment in your wearing schedule.