If you wear contact lenses or plan to wear them, you need a contact lens exam in addition to a comprehensive eye exam. During a contact lens exam and fitting at VisionArts Eyecare Center, our eye doctor will evaluate your eye health and vision and ask about your lifestyle and hobbies to determine the right type of contact lens for your needs.  

Contact lenses are a popular option to correct vision and for good reasons! If you are physically active, wearing contact lenses is much more convenient than wearing eyeglasses. Unlike eyeglasses, contact lenses won’t fog up in rainy or humid weather. Additionally, some people prefer the more natural appearance of contact lenses rather than wearing eyeglasses, which alters their facial appearance.  

It’s important to get the right contact lenses for your eye health and visual needs, though, and that requires a contact lens exam. 

Contact lens exam  

A contact lens exam is a thorough evaluation of your eyes to determine if you are a good candidate for contact lenses and which type of lens will work best for you. This exam is either done during your comprehensive eye exam or as a separate exam and includes the following: 

• During the contact lens exam, our eye doctor will evaluate the size and shape of your eyes and will also check for any eye health issues which may affect your comfort while wearing contact lenses.    
• Our eye doctor will measure your cornea to determine the curvature and size of your contact lens and will also measure the size of your pupils. If you have astigmatism, you may need to wear a toric contact lens (a special type of lens that counteracts flaws on the surface).  
• Our optometrist may also evaluate your tear film to determine if you have a condition known as dry eye syndrome, as this condition can impact your ability to wear some types of contact lenses comfortably.  

Once these tests are complete, our eye doctor will prescribe contact lenses based on your eye health and vision needs. They may provide you with trial contact lenses and ask you to wear them for a week or so. You will then come back for a follow-up exam to ensure the contacts fit comfortably and provide you with clear vision. 

You will also receive a contact lens prescription that designates the contact lens type, power, base curve (a shape matching the curvature of your eye), and diameter.    

Why do I need an exam for contact lenses?   

People who want to wear contact lenses need a contact lens exam because contact lenses are medical devices that sit directly on the eye and can potentially cause serious eye health issues if not fitted properly or used correctly. The purpose of a contact lens exam is to determine the proper fit, type, and prescription of contact lenses for each individual’s eyes. 

During a contact lens exam, our eye doctor will evaluate your eye health and assess your vision to determine the appropriate type of contact lenses that will provide optimal vision correction while ensuring that the lenses fit comfortably and securely on the eye. 

Additionally, a contact lens exam includes education and training on how to properly insert, remove, and care for contact lenses. Our eye doctor will also share advice on how to prevent and manage any potential complications that may arise from contact lens use. 

Schedule your contact lens exam in Fulton, MO 

At VisionArts Eyecare Center in Fulton, we have expertise in successfully fitting patients with the right contact lenses for their visual needs, eye health, and lifestyle. Whether you wear contact lenses already or would like to, we’re here to help you enjoy all the benefits they offer—from better vision to increased confidence! Contact us today to schedule an appointment and let us know if you wear or would like to wear contact lenses.