Contact Lens Exams

Contact lenses are a great alternative to wearing eyeglasses. Not all patients use contact lenses as their primary form of vision correction. Each patient is different, with some wearing contact lenses only on weekends, for special occasions, or for sports. Contact lenses offer flexibility to match each patient’s lifestyle.

If you choose contact lenses, they must fit properly, and you need to follow proper safety and hygiene practices. A contact lens exam includes a comprehensive eye exam, a vision prescription, and measurements to determine proper lens fit.

The Importance of a Comprehensive Eye Exam

Whether or not you have vision problems, it is important to have your eyes checked regularly to ensure they are healthy and to detect any signs of a developing eye condition. A comprehensive eye exam at Dayton Optometric Center will check the general health of your eyes as well as the quality of your vision. During this exam, the eye doctor will determine your prescription for eyeglasses. However, this prescription alone is not sufficient for contact lenses. The doctor may also check for any eye health issues that could interfere with the comfort and success of contact lens wear.

Hard-to-Fit Contact Lens Patients

We can help, even if another provider has told you that you can’t wear contact lenses. Specialty contacts are available for patients with dry eyes, severe astigmatism, and more.

The Contact Lens Consultation

The contact lens industry is always developing innovations to make contacts more comfortable, convenient, and accessible. During your consultation, your eye doctor will discuss lifestyle and health factors that affect your lens choice.

Options include daily or monthly disposables, as well as soft or rigid gas permeable (GP) lenses. If you have conditions such as astigmatism or dry eye, your eye doctor may recommend lenses that improve comfort and vision.

Now is the time to tell your eye doctor if you would like to consider colored contact lenses as well. If you are over 40 and have difficulty seeing small print, your eye doctor may recommend multifocal or monovision lenses.

Contact Lens Fitting

Contact lenses require a customized fit. Your eye doctor will need to take some measurements to fit your contact lenses properly. Contact lenses that do not fit properly could cause discomfort, blurry vision, or even damage the eye. Here are some of the measurements your eye doctor will take for a contact lens fitting:

Corneal Curvature

To ensure proper fit, your doctor will measure the curvature of your cornea. Your doctor uses a keratometer to measure corneal curvature and determine lens fit. If you have astigmatism, the curvature of your cornea is not perfectly round. Therefore, a “toric” lens, designed specifically for an eye with astigmatism, would be best suited to provide the best vision and lens fit. In some cases, your eye doctor may use corneal topography to map the surface in greater detail.

Pupil or Iris Size

Your eye doctor may measure your pupil or iris using a slit lamp or other tools. 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. If you have dry eye, your doctor will check that your tear film supports lens comfort. Otherwise, contact lenses may not be a suitable option.

The doctor evaluates your tear film using dye or a strip test to measure moisture levels. If your tear film is weak, your eye doctor may recommend lenses that retain moisture better.

Contact Lens Trial and Prescription

After selecting lenses, your doctor may have you try them to confirm fit and comfort before ordering. The doctor or assistant will insert the lenses for 15 to 20 minutes, then evaluate fit, movement, and tear response. If the lenses appear to be a good fit after the fitting, your eye doctor will order the lenses for you. Your Kettering eye doctor will also provide care and hygiene instructions, including how to insert and remove your lenses, how long to wear them, and, if relevant, how to store them.

Follow-up

Your eye doctor may request that you schedule a follow-up appointment 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 visit your eye doctor as soon as possible. Your eye doctor may decide to try a different lens, a different contact lens disinfecting solution, or an adjustment in your wearing schedule.

Contact us today to schedule your contact lens exam and fitting.