Contact Lens Eye Exams: Who Should Get Them and What to Expect

As a new prescription contact lens user, or if you are transitioning from exclusively wearing prescription eyeglasses, you will discover an empowering and convenient way of correcting vision that will quickly become second nature.

When you enter the world of contact lens wear, you will do so after a comprehensive contact eye exam under the care of a vision professional. This ensures an accurate prescription with comfort and optimal fit as the goal. Eye exams, contact lens exams, and online vision tests are distinct tools and all offer different benefits. Because contact lenses are fit and customized to correct individual vision needs using base curve and diameter measurements, this improves vision correction more accurately for each user.

What is a Contact Eye Exam?

A contact lens exam is a specialized eye examination conducted by an eye care professional to determine the appropriate prescription and fit for contact lenses. While a regular eye exam checks your overall eye health and measures your prescription for eyeglasses, a contact lens exam includes additional assessments specific to the use of prescription contact lenses.

During a contact lens exam, the eye care professional will:

Evaluate Eye Health The health of your eyes will be assessed to ensure that they are suitable for contact lens wear. This involves checking for any conditions such as dry eyes, allergies, or infections that might affect your ability to wear contact lenses.

Measure Eye Curvature The curvature of your cornea (the clear front part of your eye) will be measured to determine the proper fit for the contact lenses.

Determine Prescription Your prescription for contact lenses may differ slightly from your prescription eyeglasses. Your eye care professional will determine the appropriate prescription to correct your vision while considering factors such as the distance between the cornea and the contact lens.

Select Lens Type and Material Based on your eye health, prescription, and lifestyle, the eye care professional will help you choose the most suitable type of contact lenses (e.g., soft, gas-permeable) and the appropriate lens material.

Trial Fitting You may be given trial lenses to wear for a short period to assess comfort and vision. The fit will be evaluated to ensure the lenses are not too tight or too loose on the eyes.

Education and Care Instructions The eye care professional will provide instructions on how to insert, remove, and care for your contact lenses. Proper hygiene and care are essential to prevent eye infections and maintain good eye health.

Is there a Difference Between an Eye Exam and a Contact Lens Exam?

An eye exam and a contact lens exam serve distinct purposes, although they share some common elements. Here are the key differences between the two:

Purpose

Eye Exam - The primary purpose of a general eye exam is to assess overall eye health and determine the prescription needed for glasses. It includes evaluations for conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and eye diseases like glaucoma or cataracts.

Contact Lens Exam - This exam is specifically focused on determining the suitability of contact lenses for your eyes. It involves additional assessments to ensure that your eyes are healthy enough to wear contacts and to obtain the necessary parameters for prescription contact lenses.

Measurements

Eye Exam - It includes measurements for glasses prescription, which is typically written in terms of sphere, cylinder, and axis to correct refractive errors.

Contact Lens Eye Exam - In addition to measuring the glasses prescription, a contact lens exam involves assessing the curvature of the cornea and other factors to determine the proper fit and prescription for contact lenses.

Eye Health

Eye Exam - The general eye exam assesses overall eye health, checking for conditions like dry eyes, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.

Contact Lens Exam - Besides evaluating eye health, the contact lens exam specifically looks for factors that might affect the comfort and safety of wearing contact lenses, such as signs of infection or allergies.

Fitting Process

Eye Exam - The primary focus is on determining the prescription for eyeglasses. The fitting process involves selecting frames and ensuring they are comfortable and provide optimal vision.

Contact Lens Exam - The fitting process is more intricate, involving measurements of the cornea's curvature, selecting the appropriate type of contact lens, and assessing the fit through trial lenses.

Prescription Differences

Eye Exam - Provides a prescription for eyeglasses.

Contact Lens Exam - Provides a prescription specifically for contact lenses, which may differ slightly from the glasses prescription.

Understanding Free Online Vision Tests

Free online vision tests What to Expect aim to assess a person's visual acuity, which refers to their ability to perceive fine details at various distances. However, this type of exam is a separate process from the two listed above and is not a substitute for a comprehensive eye examination performed by a qualified eye care professional.

This test type is for people whose vision has not changed, who have recently completed a comprehensive eye exam, and who are looking to renew an expiring prescription. The test does not replace an initial eye examination, nor does it assess eye health. You should consult an eye care professional for a comprehensive eye examination yearly or any time you are experiencing pain or discomfort.

From the comfort of your home, you can complete the test using your computer or smartphone virtually. It's a user-friendly experience designed to provide accurate results. The test includes distance measuring and visual acuity testing which measures how well you can see small letters or symbols from a certain distance. The test will also involve assessing distance from the phone or computer screen which are crucial for accurate results.

Who Needs a Contact Lens Exam?

Contact lens users will benefit from a contact lens exam, not only for first-time fittings but also if your vision changes and your prescription is updated.

First-Time Contact Lens Wearers: Starting Off Right

If you're considering using affordable daily contact lenses for the first time, it's important to follow some guidelines to ensure a smooth and comfortable transition. Here are some tips for first-time contact lens users:

Visit an Eye Care Professional Schedule a comprehensive eye exam and a contact lens fitting with an eye care professional such as an optometrist or ophthalmologist. They will measure your eyes, determine the correct prescription for your lenses, and provide instructions on lens care.

Learn Proper Contact Lens Handling and Hygiene Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling your contact lenses. Dry your hands with a lint-free towel to avoid introducing debris to the lenses.

Keep Appointments Attend follow-up appointments with your eye care professional to ensure your eyes remain healthy and your lenses fit properly.

Know When to Replace Follow the recommended replacement schedule for your contact lenses. Do not exceed the recommended wearing time, even if the lenses still seem comfortable.

Regular Contact Lens Wearers: The Importance of Ongoing Check-ups

Keeping a current eye care health routine that includes regular eye exams will increase the likelihood that your contact lenses are consistent with a proper fit and are comfortable to wear. Regular eye exams for ongoing contact lens use help maintain optimal eye health and vision correction. In-person eye exams provide a thorough evaluation of your overall eye health, including checking for conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and more.

What to Expect During a Contact Lens Exam

The contact lens exam process often begins with a comprehensive eye examination to assess the overall health of your eyes. This may include checking for conditions such as dry eyes, allergies, and eye diseases. Your eye care professional may discuss your lifestyle, activities, and preferences to help determine the best contact lenses for your needs. Factors such as the frequency of lens wear, outdoor activities, and work environment may be considered.

While the initial prescription may be obtained during a regular eye exam, additional measurements may be taken to ensure the correct prescription for contact lenses. This may include assessing the level of astigmatism and other factors.

You may be provided with trial lenses to wear during the exam. These lenses help the eye care professional assess the fit, comfort, and vision correction of the contact lenses. The eye care professional will carefully evaluate the fit of the contact lenses on your eyes. This involves checking the centering, movement, and overall alignment of the lenses.

Measurements and Assessments: Ensuring the Perfect Fit

The curvature of your cornea will be measured using a keratometer or a corneal topographer. This helps determine the proper fit for contact lenses. The size of your pupils and the diameter of your iris may be measured to ensure that the contact lenses provide adequate coverage without causing discomfort.

The health and quantity of your tear film are assessed to ensure that your eyes produce enough tears for comfortable contact lens wear. Individuals with dry eyes may need special consideration.

Choosing the Right Contact Lenses: Hubble's Commitment to Quality

Hubble uses the information contact lens exams to provide the best fitting and most comfortable contact lenses, with an emphasis on their daily contact lenses.

Hubble begins with your contact lens prescription - Your contact lens prescription can be found on the side of the contact lens box from a previous order. Do not worry if you don’t have the written prescription from your doctor.

Hubble will contact your doctor - Communicating with the prescribing doctor is required by law for all companies that sell contact lenses. This is because the tiny lenses you're placing in your eyes are actual devices.

Hubble ships your contacts to your door with delivery in about 5-10 business days. Never run low on contact lenses or any vision care accessories again!

Maximizing Comfort and Health with Hubble Contacts

It's essential to schedule regular contact lens eye exams in addition to follow-up appointments. Additionally, adhering to the recommended wearing schedule and care instructions for contact lenses is equally as important. To experience contact lens comfort, maintain eye health, and address any contact lens needs, visit your eye care professional for guidance.

To get the most out of your contact lenses today—and save some time on contact lens care—start your subscription with Hubble Contacts. Hubble provides a seamless service for consistent eye care. A Hubble Contacts order begins with your prescription information shared directly from your doctor’s prescription to ensure an accurate fit, prescription strength, and that your contact lenses reflect the correct information.

At Hubble, we aim to be the one-stop destination for all of your vision needs, including contact lenses online, eyeglasses, and eye care accessories, like eye drops. We’ve reimagined the contact lens experience from the ground up, with our signature affordable contact lens online subscription service, with first-order discounts on all of our lenses!