What to Expect at Contact Lens Fittings

What to Expect at Contact Lens Fittings

For several years, more and more Americans have been switching from eyeglasses to contact lenses. Approximately 45 million people in the United States wear contacts today. Are you interested in getting contacts? If so, here are a few things you can expect at contact lens fittings:

Standard Eye Exam

Your eye doctor in Miami Gardens, FL will prepare several tests during your appointment to determine how much your vision has changed over the years. A standard eye exam usually starts with a visual acuity check. It aims to measure the ability of each eye to distinguish shapes and how sharp your vision is at a given distance. Once completed, your eye doctor may also perform other tests. It’s also common for them to ask questions about your diet, lifestyle, and any experience with prescription eyewear.

Contact Lens Fitting

During a contact lens fitting, your eye doctor at Lifetime Vision and Eye Care will have you seated with your chin stabilized in a chinrest as you look into an autorefractor. It’s a machine that collects information about your eyes’ dimensions. Your eye doctor will ask you to focus on an image. This device takes measurements by shining light into your eyes and assessing how the light reflects at various angles. An autorefractor will determine the correct lens prescription for your eyes. Your eye doctor may also use a keratometer during a contact lens fitting. This machine examines the curvature of your cornea. Identifying the shape of your cornea will determine the size of the lenses you need. It’s particularly useful for patients with astigmatism or issues with their cornea.

Lifestyle and Comfort. 

Once your eye doctor determines the proper fit for your eyes, they will discuss the type of contacts that best suit you. Choosing the kind of lens material is crucial in satisfying your lifestyle needs. Soft lenses are easy to wear and very comfortable. On the other hand, gas permeable lenses are rigid and may take some time for your eyes to adjust. But they often provide sharper vision. Other options include silicone hydrogel, hybrid, and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) contact lenses. Since contact lens care needs time and commitment, you also have to consider the wearing time and how often you’d like to replace them. Other features that you can choose from include colored, ultraviolet-inhibiting, or special-effect lenses, to name a few.

Some people don’t realize how necessary contact lens fittings are. Without proper fitting, you may experience a wide range of unwanted symptoms. For starters, you might notice that your new contact lenses will become increasingly uncomfortable the longer you wear them. Other side-effects include redness, dry eyes, excessive tearing, eye pain, irritation, and blurred vision. Others suffer from light sensitivity, sees halos around objects, and seem to have a sensation as if something foreign is lodged in their eye.

Whether it’s your first time using contact lenses or you are merely updating your prescription, a consultation with your eye doctor at Lifetime Vision and Eye Care will be necessary. At Lifetime Vision and Eye Care, we can conduct an eye exam and help you choose the right contact lenses that perfectly fit your eyes, visual needs, and way of life. Call our office today in Miami Gardens, Florida, at (305) 902-3320 to make an appointment.