Everything You Need to Know About Contact Lens Exams

Contact lenses offer a convenient and comfortable alternative to traditional glasses. Whether you're new to contact lenses or considering updating your prescription, it’s important to understand the process and benefits of a comprehensive contact lens exam. At Brinton Family Eye Care, we prioritize your eye health and vision needs, ensuring every step of the exam is tailored to you.

What Is a Contact Lens Exam?

A contact lens exam is different from a standard eye exam. While a routine eye exam checks your overall vision and eye health, a contact lens exam includes additional measurements and evaluations to ensure your lenses fit properly and provide optimal vision.

What to Expect During a Contact Lens Exam

Here’s what typically happens during a contact lens exam:

• Comprehensive Vision Assessment: We begin by checking your vision and updating your glasses prescription if needed. This helps determine if contact lenses are a suitable option for you.

• Corneal Measurements: Using specialized instruments, we measure the curvature and size of your cornea to ensure a proper lens fit. Ill-fitting lenses can cause discomfort or even damage to the eye, so this step is essential.

• Tear Film Evaluation: A healthy tear film is necessary for comfortable contact lens wear. We evaluate your eyes for signs of dryness to determine the best lens material and wearing schedule for you.

• Lens Selection and Trial Fitting: Based on your vision needs, lifestyle, and eye structure, we select contact lenses that best suit you. We’ll provide trial lenses for you to wear in-office to assess initial fit and comfort.

• Follow-Up Appointments: After your initial fitting, we schedule a follow-up visit to evaluate how your eyes are adjusting to the lenses. Adjustments to the fit or type of lens may be made if necessary.

Types of Contact Lenses Available

At Brinton Family Eye Care, we offer a wide variety of contact lenses to meet your unique needs, including:

• Soft contact lenses (daily, bi-weekly, and monthly)

• Toric lenses for astigmatism

• Multifocal lenses for presbyopia or myopia control 

• Rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses 

• MiSight® lenses for FDA-approved myopia management in children

• Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) lenses for overnight vision correction and myopia control

We’ll guide you through the options to find the best fit for your lifestyle and visual clarity.

Take the First Step Toward Clearer, Comfortable Vision

Wearing contact lenses without a proper fitting can lead to issues such as eye infections, corneal abrasions, or discomfort. A professional contact lens exam ensures that your eyes are healthy enough for contacts and that the lenses you wear offer both comfort and clear vision.

If you're considering contact lenses or need to update your current prescription, schedule a contact lens exam at Brinton Family Eye Care to find the perfect fit. Visit our office in Indian Land, South Carolina, or call (803) 284-8400 to book an appointment today.