Contact Lens Exam Vs. Eye Exam

Routine eye exams are essential to correct vision and detect vision problems at their early stages for treatment. However, most people do not know that if you want to wear contact lenses, you must get a different type of exam for contacts. Skipping this type of exam is not possible. Read on to learn more about lens exams and eye exams.

What Is a Contact Lens Exam?

Everyone who wants to wear contact lenses must get a contact lens exam. Your eye doctor will need to examine your vision with contact lenses. They will do so by performing different tests. They will begin by measuring the surface of your eyes to determine the type of contacts and size that are suitable. 

Performing a tear film evaluation can also check if your eyes produce adequate tears to remain comfortable with contacts. After getting the test results, your eye doctor can give you the right fit contact lens prescription for your eyes. You will have to decide between extended wear contacts and daily disposable ones. You can also let them know if you want colored contacts.

Your eye specialist will fit you with a pair of trial contact lenses. You will wear them for a couple of days. You will return after a week for a follow-up examination to assess how you have adjusted to the lenses.

The Reason You Need a Separate Exam If You Want Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are medical devices. So if you need to wear them, you should get a separate examination. Your eye doctor can perform your contact lens exam at the same time as your eye exam. You can tell them of your interest in wearing contacts during your routine eye exam.

What Is an Eye Exam?

An eye exam involves a series of tests to assess your vision and ability to discern and focus on objects. It pertains to examining the eyes to check whether you have eye diseases.

Contact Lens Exam and Eye Exam

Contact and eye exams have various similarities. Both examine your vision to determine the appropriate prescription to solve your vision problems. During these exams, your eye specialist will do vision evaluations.

They will evaluate how your pupil responds to light, the working together of your eyes, and how you see objects at varying distances. Your eye doctor will then determine a prescription for clear vision based on all these evaluations.

The two exams are different. Your eye doctor spends most of their time measuring and evaluating the cornea during a contact lens exam. Careful assessment is vital as the lenses will rest directly on the cornea.

The examination checks abnormalities, like scratches and the shape of your cornea. Such issues could make wearing contact lenses uncomfortable or impossible. In an eye exam, your eye doctor will look for eye disease signs through various assessments before the conditions cause any symptoms. 

Consult Your Optometrist

Your optometrist is the best person to answer all your questions if you are unsure about the type of exam you need. Generally, a comprehensive eye exam is necessary every year. You also need a contact lens exam when the last contacts prescription expires or after every 12 months.

For more about contacts and eye exams, visit Seymour Eye Clinic at our office in Seymour, Indiana. Call (812) 523-6100 to book an appointment today.