Embarking on your contact lens journey involves more than clarity—it’s about ensuring your eye health. Practices listed with Specialty Vision provide comprehensive contact lens exams and custom fittings for your unique needs.
Starting your journey with contact lenses means more than just seeing clearly; it is about keeping your eyes healthy and comfortable. Because contact lenses are medical devices that sit directly on your eyes, a specialized exam and fitting with our eye doctor is essential. This ensures we find the perfect lens for your unique vision and lifestyle needs.
Your path to contact lens wear begins with specialized assessments that go beyond a standard eye exam. These steps ensure your new lenses fit safely and are effective for your eyes, safeguarding your long-term health and comfort.
Before considering contact lenses, we begin with a comprehensive eye exam. This is a thorough evaluation of your vision and overall eye health. Our eye doctor assesses your visual acuity and screens for eye conditions such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and macular degeneration, ensuring your eyes are healthy enough for contact lens wear.
A contact lens exam is performed in addition to a regular eye exam. Since a contact lens sits directly on your cornea, a precise fit is vital for comfort and eye health. This exam includes detailed corneal measurements, an assessment of corneal health, and an evaluation of oxygen transmission through the lens material.
A prescription for glasses differs significantly from one for contact lenses because glasses sit away from the eye, while contacts rest directly on its surface. A contact lens prescription requires extra measurements, including base curve and diameter, to ensure comfort and proper vision. By law, your finalized prescription is released to you and is typically valid for one year.
Contact lenses are medical devices regulated by the FDA to ensure safety and effectiveness. Our fitting process aligns with these standards, including checking for risk factors such as dry eye, allergies, or previous contact lens intolerance to avoid complications and protect your vision.
The contact lens fitting process is a collaborative effort between you and our eye doctor, blending clinical measurements with your personal experience for optimal vision, comfort, and safety.
The process begins with understanding your work environment, hobbies, and daily activities. This helps determine the most suitable lens type, whether that be daily disposables for convenience, specialty lenses for dry eye or astigmatism, or multifocal lenses for presbyopia.
Our eye doctor uses instruments such as a keratometer and corneal topographer to map the curvature and shape of your cornea precisely. Pupil and iris measurements are also taken to customize lens diameter and design, providing a comfortable and stable fit that maximizes vision quality.
Assessment of your tear film quality and volume is critical to ensure your eyes can handle contact lens wear without dryness or irritation. Tests include tear break-up time and meibomian gland function evaluation. Based on findings, we may recommend appropriate lens materials or lubricating drops.
You will be fitted with trial contact lenses to assess initial fit and comfort. Our team provides hands-on training for proper insertion, removal, and lens care, making sure you feel confident before leaving the office with your trial lenses.
After wearing the lenses for several days or weeks at home, a follow-up appointment is essential to check for any issues such as redness, discomfort, or vision problems. This allows us to make any necessary adjustments before finalizing your prescription, ensuring the best long-term outcome.
After your exam, the next step is choosing the right type of contact lens. Countless lens options and technologies are available for a broad range of prescriptions and lifestyle needs.
Soft lenses are the most common and provide immediate comfort, adapting easily to the eye’s surface. RGP lenses are more durable, offer sharper vision, and are often preferred for complex prescriptions like high astigmatism, though they require a longer adaptation period.
These lenses are designed for single-use wear and then disposal, eliminating the need for cleaning solutions. They promote excellent hygiene and are a great option for people with allergies or those who want maximum convenience.
Reusable lenses come in biweekly or monthly replacement schedules and require nightly cleaning and disinfecting with appropriate solutions. While more cost-effective, they demand diligent care to prevent complications.
Certain silicone hydrogel lenses are approved for overnight wear, providing convenience for select patients. However, extended wear increases the risk of infection and corneal complications, so strict adherence to your eye doctor's guidance is necessary.
Also known as toric lenses, these feature specialized designs to correct astigmatism. They are built to maintain stable positioning on the eye to prevent the vision fluctuations that can be caused by lens rotation.
Multifocal and monovision contact lenses provide clear vision at near, intermediate, and distance ranges for those who need help with reading vision. This allows you to reduce your dependence on reading glasses.
Specialty contact lenses are designed to address complex vision or medical conditions that standard lenses cannot adequately correct, offering life-changing vision for many patients.
Myopia (nearsightedness) is increasing worldwide and is linked to higher risks of serious eye diseases later in life. MiSight 1 Day lenses are FDA-approved to slow myopia progression in children, ideally starting between ages 8 and 12.
Scleral lenses are large-diameter rigid lenses that vault over the cornea to rest on the white part of the eye. They are highly effective for keratoconus, corneal scarring, severe dry eye syndrome, and other irregular corneal conditions, providing a fluid reservoir to protect and hydrate the eye.
Ortho-K lenses are rigid gas permeable lenses worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea. This provides clear vision during the day without the need for glasses or contact lenses, and it can also help slow myopia progression.
Hybrid lenses combine a rigid gas permeable center with a soft outer skirt. This design offers the crisp, clear vision of an RGP lens with the comfort of a soft lens, making it a great option for many patients.
Contact lenses are safe only if worn and cared for correctly. Following these guidelines can greatly reduce your risk of complications and ensure your lenses remain comfortable all day.
For reusable lenses, rub and rinse them each night with fresh disinfecting solution. For patients with sensitive eyes, hydrogen-peroxide based systems may be recommended but must be properly neutralized before lens insertion to avoid a chemical burn.
Replace your lens case at least every three months to reduce bacterial buildup. After each use, rinse it with contact lens solution (never water) and leave it to air dry upside down with the caps off in a clean environment.
If you experience redness, pain, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, discharge, or persistent dryness, immediately remove your lenses and contact your eye doctor. Early attention helps prevent serious complications such as infections or corneal ulcers.
Ready to experience the clarity and comfort of contact lenses? Find a top optometrist or ophthalmologist near you today! They can guide you through the contact lens exam and fitting process tailored to your needs.
Consult your eye care professional to book your contact lens exam and fitting. Our experienced team is here to help you find the best lenses for your eyes and lifestyle.
Ready to experience the clarity and comfort of contact lenses? Find a top optometrist or ophthalmologist near you today! They can guide you through the contact lens exam and fitting process tailored to your needs.
Start your journey to clear vision with a professional contact lens exam. Find a top optometrist near you today!
