Contact Lens Exam
Contact Lens Exam in Blue Island, IL
If you wear contact lenses or plan to wear contact lenses, it’s essential to schedule a contact lens exam in Blue Island. During your appointment, we’ll assess your eye health and vision and discuss your lifestyle and hobbies to recommend the best lenses for your needs. Modern contact lenses can provide clear, comfortable vision for many people, whether they have astigmatism, presbyopia, or keratoconus.
What is a contact lens exam?
During a contact lens exam, our optometrist will evaluate the size and shape of your eye to find a lens that fits your eye properly. They will also check for any eye health issues that could affect how comfortable it will be for you to wear contact lenses.
Specifically, a contact lens eye exam will include:
- Our optometrist will measure your cornea to determine the curvature and size of your contact lens. If you have astigmatism, you may need a toric lens to correct irregularities on the cornea.
- We’ll measure your pupils to ensure your lenses fit comfortably.
- We’ll also evaluate your tear film for dry eye, which can affect lens comfort and wear.
Once these tests are complete, your optometrist will recommend the best type of contact lens based on your eye health and vision needs. You may try several different brands to see which ones feel the most comfortable.
After finding contact lenses that fit properly, feel comfortable, and provide clear vision, your optometrist will give you a contact lens prescription. This prescription includes the lens power, base curve (matching the curvature of your eye), and diameter to ensure a proper fit.
Why do I need a separate exam for contact lenses?
If you plan to wear contact lenses, you’ll need a separate contact lens exam. Unlike glasses, contact lenses sit directly on the eye, so the fit, curvature, and lens type must be carefully measured to ensure comfort, proper vision, and eye health. A contact lens prescription is required by law to safely wear them.
When scheduling your first comprehensive eye exam at Vision Salon Eye Care Associates, let us know if you wear or plan to wear contacts. We will make sure to include a contact lens evaluation during your visit.
Contact lens exam follow-up visit
Our optometrist may recommend scheduling a follow-up appointment to ensure your contact lenses fit properly. During this visit, we’ll also check how well your eyes are adjusting to the lenses.
Can I sleep in my contacts?
It is not healthy to sleep in contact lenses, though several lens designs are approved for overnight wear up to 7 days. We recommend removing contacts overnight, although wearing them during short daytime naps is generally okay.
Can I use my eyeglass prescription to buy over-the-counter contact lenses?
Eyeglasses prescriptions and contact lens prescriptions are often different. A contact lens prescription specifies not only the power of the contacts but also the brand and very specific lens parameters. In the U.S., there are no FDA-approved brands for over-the-counter contact lenses. Contact lenses are a medical device because they come into contact with the delicate tissues of the eye.
Is it safe for me to clean my contact lenses with a homemade solution?
No, contact lenses require specialized cleaning solutions.
Can my child wear contact lenses during sports activities?
In general, yes, and contact lenses can often be the preferred method of vision correction because they provide better side or peripheral vision for sports.
