At PreciousEyes, we strive to keep your eyes healthy and see you better, and look better! With our unmatched expert patient-oriented care, you can maintain a healthy vision. So, if you are thinking about switching from glasses to contact lenses, then undergo a comprehensive Contact Lens Eye Exam. Therefore, this guide presents you with all the details you need to understand the specialized contact lens exam. For other essential details, walk through this guide.
What is a Contact Lens Eye Exam?
Generally, a contact lens exam is quite comprehensive, beginning with the initial ocular checks by an optometrist (OD). Further, they examine the presence of any underlying condition, such as dryness or allergy. After that, they exactly measure your eyes, including mapping of the curve of your cornea. This process is referred to as keratometry.
In addition, your eyes are checked to evaluate the exact shape, size, tear production, and overall health of your eyes. After analyzing your day-to-day requirements, they will assist you in choosing the right kind of lens that you may use. Before that, you must also appear in the Contact Lens Fitting Exam to ensure that the lens fits both your eyes.
The Crucial Contact Lens Fitting Exam
Likewise, lens fitting exams cannot be done without a proper measurement or prescription. You will get this prescription in the comprehensive Contact Lens Eye Exam. Indeed, you need a medical prescription to buy and wear these lenses, as these are medical devices.
Once your eye examination is done, the optometrist fine-tunes the prescription and suggests the best lens for you. Additionally, OD may ask you whether you want colored lenses for your eyes or disposable lenses. After evaluating your team film, the OD will prescribe the best-fitting lens to keep your eyes moist.
What Happens During Contact Lens Fitting?
Meanwhile, you know what exactly the lens fitting exam is. Further, it is essential to understand what to expect and what happens during a fitting exam. Generally, your OD will take a series of steps to examine, evaluate, and suggest a suitable lens for your eyes. So, here is the complete lens fitting process step-by-step:
- Keratometry & Corneal Topography
First, the OD will examine and determine the size of your cornea and curvature. Using a Corneal topographer, OD takes the precise measurement of your base curve.
Further, the color-coded details of your cornea by creating a map of your corneal shape. Any person found to have astigmatism will be prescribed a special type of lens, called a toric lens.
- Pupil & Iris Evaluation
After that, the OD will test the size of your pupil and iris to find the most appropriate lens for you. Your OD will evaluate your pupil and iris to prescribe you the gas-permeable lenses. This test mainly involves measuring the pupil and iris size via a ruler or card, or an automated instrument. Some eye doctors may use different measurements and techniques.
- Tear film evaluation
The third and most important test in the contact lens fitting exam is determining the ability of a person to wear the lenses. The OD will check your eyes for dryness, syndrome, or similar issues. Then, they will measure the time taken to evaporate the tears and thus suggest the best fit.
Above all, your doctor will suggest the best lens with your prescription to ensure a healthy vision.
Proper Care and Handling Instructions
However, a proper handling of lenses is one of the fundamental aspects of the contact lens eye exam. Most importantly, your OD will give you the elaborate guidelines to wear, remove, and handle the contact lenses. Moreover, hygiene is of the utmost importance. When putting on the lenses, always wash your hands.
Additionally, avoid putting tap water on your lenses. Then, follow only the suggested liquid solutions and clean the lenses regularly. Further, you must store your prescribed lenses in a fresh solution.
In Conclusion
In essence, the contact lenses provide a clear vision as well as incredible flexibility. Notably, safe and comfortable wearing, however, lies solely in the hands of professional care. Consequently, an in-depth contact lens eye exam keeps you in good eye health. Through this guide, we have given you the quick checks and tips to find the best-fitting lenses for your eyes. So, follow these instructions diligently, and enjoy the freedom of contact lenses responsibly.