ACUVUE® Blog
What to expect at your first contact lens exam
By Dr. Giovanna Olivares, OD, FAAO; Johnson & Johnson Vision Director & Staff Writer
Know the basics before you go
We get it, visiting a doctor’s office can be intimidating, especially when you aren’t sure what you’re going to experience. A visit to the eye doctor is no different. So whether you’re a teen feeling nervous about getting your first pair of contact lenses or you’re no spring chicken but you’re feeling like a chicken, we’re here to help demystify the experience so you can walk in confidently (or at least less nervously) and get a pair of contacts that gives you freedom and flexibility you’re looking for.
A contact lens exam: An add-on to a comprehensive eye exam
When you call an eye doctor to set up a contact lens fitting, you’re essentially asking for a longer appointment than your typical comprehensive exam. That’s because you’ll get your eye health checked through a comprehensive eye exam, and then you’ll also get evaluated and measured for contact lenses. Once your eye doctor determines that contact lenses are right for you, you’ll receive some one-on-one instruction on how to put them on and take them off. This is why contact lens fittings cost more than a routine eye exam and glasses prescription—you’re getting a lot more!
What happens in a first contact lens exam: Step by step
Every doctor has their own routine or equipment that they use, but typically the exams follow a similar structure. In the next few sections, we’ll go over what could be included at ever step.
Step 1: Check in—early, if you can
As with just about every doctor’s office out there, the first thing you have to do when you check in is fill out paperwork. Some offices will allow you to fill it out electronically before you get there, but if not, grab a pen and take a seat. This is why it’s a good idea to get there ahead of time. Paperwork typically includes a medical and family history because many common diseases like diabetes and arthritis can have profound effects on eye health and vision, and some diseases are hereditary.
Step 2: The pre-test
When they call you back (this will likely be a technician, not the eye doctor yet), the first thing they’ll usually do is takes some initial measurements. This is called “pre-test” and it can include:
Step 3: The comprehensive exam
Did you know that a comprehensive eye exam is good for more than just your eyes? The tests your eye doctor performs can help detect over 270 systemic diseases. In this part of the appointment, your eye doctor will test your vision, assess how your eyes work together, and evaluate the health of your eyes and retina. Let’s go over some of the elements.
During this part of the exam, your eye doctor will find out how much correction each eye needs. To do that, they’ll most commonly use a phoropter. You’ll be asked: “Which is better? Number one or number two,” because they’re cycling through different lens powers and seeing which ones provides the sharpest vision. Your eye doctor may also opt to use other tools like a retinoscope. A retinoscope shines a light into your eye, and depending how the light reflects off the retina, the doctor can determine your prescription. Another part of the exam will test for abnormalities in the way your eyes function and/or move together. This is called binocular vision, because your brain has to take information from both your eyes to create one image. Because of that, it’s not just a test of your eye’s muscular function but also your neurological function. Your eye doctor may test this by moving an object around in different directions and asking you to follow with your eyes. In this part of the exam, your eye doctor will take a look at the external parts of your eyes like your eyelashes, your cornea (the front surface of your eyes) and your iris (the colored part of your eye) with a special microscope called a slit lamp. Your doctor may want to dilate your pupils, especially if this is your first visit with them. This procedure allows them to better see through to the back of the eye and evaluate the health of your retina and optic nerve inside the eye. This is especially important if you are nearsighted as nearsighted people have a higher risk of developing retinal problems.Determining your prescription
Are your eyes working as a team?
Inspecting the outside of your eyes
Will they dilate your pupils?
Step 4: The contact lens exam
There are different contacts for different needs (daily disposables vs. reusables, lenses for astigmatism and for presbyopia, etc) which your eye doctor will take into consideration depending on your lifestyle and prescription needs, so they’ll ask questions about how you want to use your contacts. Glasses and contact lenses are different for more than just the obvious reasons. The prescription will be a little different because the contact lens actually has to sit on your eye, and the curvature of your eye is unique to you. So in addition to the testing from the comprehensive eye exam, your eye doctor may:The consultation
Additional testing
Step 5: Trying on contacts
Your doctor will have some recommendations based on the tests, your prescription and your lifestyle, and you’ll try them on to see how they feel, fit, and improve your vision. Your doctor will verify that the lenses fit well on your eye, that they move when you blink, and that they cover your cornea completely. If you have lenses that correct your astigmatism, the doctor will check to make sure that the lenses are positioned correctly on the eye. The prescription in the contacts will be checked using an eye chart and the phoropter, asking you once again, “Number one or number two?” If any change in the prescription is needed, they will make that change before you leave the office.
Now’s the time to practice and ask questions
While you’re at the office, they’ll walk you through the process of putting on the lenses and taking them off. You’ll have time to practice with them while in the office so you are confident enough to do it on your own at home.
The follow up appointment
Even when you go home with your free trial pair, don’t worry if you end up with more questions. That’s what the follow up is for. You’ll go back to the eye doctor in a few days or weeks to check in and make sure the lenses are right for you. It’s then that you’ll get your official prescription and can order your full supply of contacts. If the lenses aren’t right for you, your eye doctor will likely start over with a new lens and repeat the process. If at any point you experience pain, redness, or blurry vision in between your contact lens exam and your follow-up appointment, stop wearing them and contact your eye doctor.
Enjoy!
Life with contact lenses can be a game changer for many. If you’re active, you don’t have to worry about glasses falling off. If you like a more natural look, you can now go out without glasses covering up part of your face. And you get a full field of unobstructed vision, to enjoy the world around you, crisp and clear. Hopefully this helps take some of the nerves out of going to get your contact lenses. We hope you find some ACUVUE contact lenses that you love, and enjoy seeing the beauty of the world around you.
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Footnotes
Consult your eye care professional for more information. Johnson & Johnson does not provide medical advice; this information is for educational purposes only. *Free trial contact lenses available only from participating eye care professionals. Exam and fitting fees not included. Important Information for Contact Lens Wearers: ACUVUE Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for vision correction. An eye care professional will determine whether contact lenses are right for you. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor. Do not wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, remove the lens and contact your eye doctor immediately. For more information on proper wear, care and safety, talk to your eye care professional and ask for a Patient Instruction Guide, call 1-800-843-2020, or download the Patient Instruction Guides. 2024PP06056
~Reward amount dependent on ACUVUE product and quantity purchased and if you are a new wearer. Must get an eye exam and purchase from participating provider. Original receipt
required. Valid thru 6/30/24. Rewards paid in the form of an ACUVUE brand Prepaid Mastercard®. Use your card everywhere Mastercard is accepted in the U.S. issued by The Bancorp Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Your use of the prepaid card is governed by the Cardholder Agreement, and some fees may apply. This is not a gift card. Please note that prepaid cards are subject to expiration, so pay close attention to the expiration date of the card.