Contact Lenses

 

Welcome to the office! Read further in this section and learn what to expect. Starting to see the world through contact lenses is exciting. Our doctors and staff will guide you through the process of seeing the world through new vision. The benefits of contact lens wear are many: better peripheral vision, no reflections from eyeglass lenses, often sharper vision in all directions, better for sports and activities. But the fitting and care of the lenses is very important.

 

How does this fitting process work?

 

Before you visit: Feel free to read more about contact lenses in this section. It should give you a better idea of what to expect. You may want to watch the videos at the end of this section (other tools).

At your evaluation: We will take measurements and evaluate the size of your cornea, the curvature of the cornea, the tear film, the eyelids, and your eyeglass prescription. We will determine your visual needs and ask you questions about medications and environment. From this information we can then discuss recommendations for your lenses and help you make choices. In many cases, we will then insert trial lenses from inventory. After evaluating the performance and visual acuity with these lenses we will either adjust the prescription, try alternate lenses, or guide you directly to our technician for training. The technician will teach you how to prepare to work with lenses and then show you how to remove your lenses . You will then learn to insert them and practice this insertion and removal (I&R) technique. In most cases patients become successful at the first visit, but we may also recommend extra sessions until you and we are both confident with your capabilities. The staff will describe or demonstrate many useful tips to help in your adaptation to contact lens wear. They will then proceed to educate you on the handling of lenses, give you starter solutions with instructions on their use, give you a lens wear schedule and discuss general contact lens care and wear. You will then be scheduled for a progress evaluation appointment, generally within a week of the final lens dispensing date.  

 

1 week progress evaluation: At this visit we will ask you questions on your experience with the lenses over the past week and allow you to ask questions you may have (by the way, please feel free to call the office if you have questions during that week!). We will then check your visual acuity with the lenses. The doctor will evaluate the fit of the lenses and the status of their interaction with your eyes. If any adjustments or changes need to be made it will happen now and you will be seen again in another week. If no modifications are necessary we will see you again in about 3 weeks.

 

1 month progress evaluation: By now you will be very used to wearing the contact lenses. Again, we will check your vision and ask about your wearing experience. This visit is intended primarily for the doctor to be sure the lenses interact safely with your eyes and avoid any long-term contact lens wear complications.

This will complete your fitting process: For the future, we recommend a contact lens progress evaluation at a 6 month interval the first year you are fit with new lenses and then annually thereafter (which can be done at your routine eye examination). If you ever have questions or concerns, call the office! If you are concerned that you may have a contact lens problem, we have a doctor who can be contacted 24 hours a day through the answering service.