Many people prefer contact lenses over eye glasses, because contacts are more convenient and provide more satisfying vision correction. Eye exams for contact lenses include the same elements as comprehensive eye exams, but during contact lens fittings your eye doctor will take a few extra steps to determine which contacts work best for your eyes.
Every person who wears contacts is required to go through a comprehensive eye exam. This occurs before you are actually fitted for contacts, to establish if your eye health will enable you to wear contacts. Also during the comprehensive eye exam, the eye doctor will determine your prescription for eyeglasses. If everything looks good, the doctor will then begin your contact lens fitting and consultation.
The first thing you should think about before deciding to get contact lenses is your lifestyle and the preferences you have when it comes to contact lenses. You should consider if you want contacts that change your eye color, or if you want contacts that will last a few weeks or only one day. There are even contacts that can be worn overnight, which is another factor that may play a role in the type of contacts you decide to purchase. The vast majority of people wear soft contact lenses, but the doctor will also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of wearing gas permeable lenses.
If you need bifocal lenses, your eye doctor will walk through a few different options with you. Multifocal lenses are becoming a more popular option, or your eye doctor may recommend wearing one contact lens for near vision, and a contact lens for seeing farther distances in the other eye.
Contact lenses are made specifically to fit the unique shape of your eye. If the shape of the contact is even slightly too round or too flat, you could face discomfort or damage to your eyes. Your eye doctor will take various measurements of your eyes to choose the best contact for your eye shape.
As soon as your eye doctor determines that contact lenses are a good option, they will write a contact lens prescription or you. The prescription will note the strength of the contacts, the curvature, the lens diameter, and the brand of the lens. Other specifications may be included if you have astigmatism or are getting contact lenses that change your eye color. As you wear contacts, you should remember to have an eye exam every year to ensure that your eyes are healthy enough to continue wearing your lenses.