If you choose to wear contacts, we provide a specialized contact lens exam to help determine what design and fit will work best for you and your lifestyle.
Due to the nature of contact lenses, patient’s that wear them require both a comprehensive exam as well as an additional contact lens fitting to help determine the proper fit of the contacts or to verify that the contacts a patient is currently wearing is still the best for their vision.
Before determining a contact lens prescription, a comprehensive exam must be performed. You can find more information on our comprehensive exams here(hyperlink).
Science and technology have come a long way in the past 20 years and new innovations are still being made to make contacts better for the patient. During this portion of the contact lens exam the doctor will discuss with you the best fit for your eye and your lifestyle. Contacts come in daily and monthly disposable options. You can also select between soft or rigid gas permeable lenses. Conditions like astigmatism can require specific types of contacts for the best fit and vision. For those that are presbyopic (needing reading glasses with age) the doctor might recommend using multifocal or a combination of multifocal and monovision lenses.
The next step during our contact lens exam is to determine the best fit for the eye. There is no one size fits all options with contacts. Contacts that do not have a correct fit can cause blurry vision or discomfort. Each eye has to be measured for the curvature to determine the best contact for you. If you have an astigmatism, then a “toric” lens could be prescribed. Pupil size also can be used to determine the proper lens design.
After consultation and to best determine the proper fit the doctor may have you try on a pair of trial lenses. We recommend a patient leave the contacts in for about 5-10 minutes. At this point, the doctor may do some additional follow-up to ensure that the prescription and fit are appropriate for you before ordering a full supply of lenses. Sometimes, a patient will need to schedule a follow up contact lens check appointment after wearing the trials while doing their everyday tasks for a few days to ensure the lens is truly the best fit.
Since Contacts cover a portion of the eye, they can reduce the amount of oxygen getting to the cornea. Contacts can pose a greater risk for eye damage or infections if used improperly. For these reasons, you should have an annual eye exam if you wear contacts.
When scheduling your annual exam, make sure to advise the doctor that you are also a contact lens patient to schedule the contact lens fitting as well. This will save you time and repeat appointments.
Remember to always wash your hands before touching your eyes and never sleep in your contacts unless they are medically approved for overnight wear.
Dr Dienes was the best. The time and care she took to make sure my prescription was right was outstanding. She and her staff didn't rush me or sell me, but patiently worked with me until I was completely satisfied. ... With my new glasses it is totally clear and transitions seamlessly between the sections. I not only look awesome .... I see awesome!
