When it comes to contact lenses, a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work; each person’s eyes are unique and change over time. These changes necessitate a visit to your eye doctor, who will fit the lenses to ensure that they are safe and comfortable. Lenses that don’t fit aren’t stable on the eye, leading to eye irritation and poor vision.
Why You Need to Get Your Contact Lenses Measured
Many patients don’t realize that their worsening myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) or astigmatism is a result of their eyes changing shape.
For this reason, your eye doctor needs to measure your eyes to correctly fit your new contact lenses. Contacts that don't fit properly can cause poor vision, discomfort and even damage your cornea. For a contact lens fitting, your eye doctor will collect the following measurements:
- Corneal curvature
- Tear film evaluation
- Pupil or iris size
If you are getting your eyes assessed for contact lenses, a contact lens measurement and fitting should be included to ensure you receive the optimal lenses for your vision and lifestyle. Schedule an appointment with Switalski Eye Care in East Plano today.
What's Included in a Contact Lens Exam?
A contact lens exam isn’t the same as a standard eye exam. It includes:
- Initial Discussion
The doctor will need to know about your lifestyle and when you wear your lenses. This may include discussing the differences between daily disposable lenses, hard lenses or overnight lenses, reading glasses and multifocals.
2. Eye Surface Measurements
Every lens needs to fit the individual shape and dimensions of the cornea. To ensure the contacts fit correctly, the doctor will take accurate measurements of the corneal power and curvatures, assess for astigmatism and measure the size of your pupil. These measurements are vital for both comfort and vision correction.
3. Tear Film Evaluation
The contact lenses interact with your tears, so tear film evaluation is required to assess the quality of your tear film. If your tear film is insufficient or you suffer from chronic dry eyes, you may need dry eye treatment in combination with your lenses. Many of the newer contact lens designs can be used by people with dry eyes.
4. Contact Lens Trial
The final step of the contact lens exam is to place a trial pair of contact lenses on your eyes. The doctor will then examine the lenses on your eyes to ensure the best fit — allowing them to make changes before working out the final prescription. The trial lenses will enable you to know whether they offer comfort and visual clarity.
At Switalski Eye Care, we put your family's needs first. Talk to us about how we can help you maintain healthy vision. Call us today: 855-847-4686 or book an appointment online to see one of our East Plano eye doctors.
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