Eye exams are different for patients who wear contact lenses as opposed to glasses. The exam doesn’t only check your visual acuity. Proper contact lens fitting requires additional testing and evaluation from the doctor. There are higher health risks with contacts in that they could cause harm to the patient if they aren’t properly fitted.

A contact lens fitting determines the curvature of the eye surface and how light reflects in the eye. Special instruments map the surface of the cornea and identify different areas of steepness and flattening. This information is used to prescribe the appropriate type of contact needed for each individual patient. A contact lens is not one-size-fits-all. Each eye can even be very different from the other. Some patients are better suited for different types of lenses.

Your lifestyle and personal preferences can help you decide what type of lenses you want to receive. Contacts can change the color of your eyes, can be daily disposable or indefinite lifespan, and can be soft or hard. The care and upkeep of each type of contacts may vary and can be a significant factor in the fitting.

For those wanting contacts a special evaluation is performed at each annual examination. This is necessary to ensure proper health and safety when wearing contacts. It is also necessary to provide the best vision results available to each individual.