Contact Lens Exam and Fitting

People who wear glasses can get contact lenses to alternate with their eyeglasses when the occasion demands. Contacts are ideal for sports, special events, or when you desire a change from the norm. Yet, although the glasses and contacts work the same, the process of getting and fitting them is different. Getting contact lenses has extra steps compared to getting regular glasses.

 

The Contact Lens Exam

At the optometrist’s office, the first thing he or she does is conduct a comprehensive eye exam. The test consists of several cover tests designed to test how well your eyes work together. To diagnose refractive errors, the eye doctor uses letter boards and various lenses. For a look at the interior of your eye, the doctor uses a slit lamp. A pressure test and a dilated pupil test are used to examine the back of your eye to check for any signs of glaucoma.

 

The Results of Your Testing

The results of your tests determine the way forward, whether to proceed with the fitting or not. If your eyes are not healthy, the eye doctor may opt to treat your eyes first before fitting the contacts. If you have been wearing contacts and they damaged your eye’s surface extensively, the optometrist treats your eyes first before getting you new contact lenses.

 

Next, the eye doctor chooses a pair of contact lenses for you. The ideal pair depends on your eye’s health and lifestyle. The eye doctor must consider your profession, hobbies, and general health. In the past, fitting contacts took a one-size-fits-all approach, but today, doctors deal with each case specially.

 

There are many types of contact lenses from which to choose. They include the daily disposables, weekly and monthly lenses. Toric contact lenses are meant for patients with astigmatism. Persons whose eyes are hard to fit may get hard-to-fit lenses.

 

Contact Lenses Fitting

After determining your prescription and the type of contacts that best suit you, the eye doctor moves on to the fitting. He must get your exact measurements so that the lens not only fits but also blends with your eye. For a perfect fit, the eye doctor measures the curvature of your cornea using a keratometer. He also measures the vertical and horizontal diameters of the pupil and iris. These measurements determine the curvature and size of your contact lenses.

 

The eye doctor then tests your tear film to determine if you have dry eye syndrome. If your eyes are dry, the contacts may not stick to the eyeball correctly. Also, the rubbing of the dry cornea and the lens damages the surface of your eye, which could cause infection. The optometrist uses a small paper strip for the tear film test and places it under your lower eyelid. He or she then asks you to shut your eyes for about five minutes. The wetness of your eyes is a sign of their ability to produce tears.

 

If the dryness is mild, the optometrist may prescribe a special kind of soft contact lenses with moisture technology. But, if your eye dryness is severe, the doctor may ask you to postpone your contact lenses fitting.

 

Contact lens eye exam and fitting take longer than the typical eye exam. But, this is done to ensure excellent functionality and comfort. Get your contact lenses fitted by Seabert Eye Care in Burleson, Texas.

 

Learn more about contact lens exams & fittings, contact Seabert Eye Care in Burleson, Texas at (817) 857-8700 to request an appointment.