A contact lens exam follows a clear sequence from start to finish. Each step builds on the last, and our team takes time to explain what we are doing and why. Here is what to expect from the moment you arrive.
The visit starts with a few questions about your general eye health, any allergies, and the medications you take. We also ask how you use your lenses throughout the day. If you currently wear contacts, bring your lens boxes so we can see the brand, power, and replacement schedule. If you are new to lenses, think about the activities you want your contacts to support, such as long hours at a computer, outdoor sports, or night driving, so we can match the lens to your lifestyle.
Our eye doctors measure your prescription using a refractor, the instrument with multiple lenses you look through while reading the chart. In many cases, dilating drops are placed in the eyes to allow a clear view of the retina and the natural lens inside the eye. Dilation (widening of the pupil) can make vision temporarily blurry up close and cause light sensitivity for a few hours, so we recommend bringing sunglasses to your appointment.
A topographer or keratometer is used to map the precise curvature of your cornea. We also evaluate your tear film, the thin layer of moisture that keeps the eye comfortable and helps a contact lens feel stable. A dye called fluorescein, viewed under a blue light, shows how quickly the tear film breaks up between blinks. If your tears evaporate quickly, that finding can guide which lens material we recommend to keep you comfortable through a full day of wear.
A trial pair of lenses is placed on your eyes and allowed to settle for a short time so they can center naturally. Our eye doctors then check your vision and ask about your comfort, and examine the lenses under the slit lamp to confirm the fit. If everything looks right, you leave with a trial supply and instructions for a short follow-up visit. If the fit needs any adjustment, a different base curve, diameter, or lens brand is tried during the same appointment.
If this is your first time wearing contact lenses, you will practice putting the lenses in and taking them out before you leave the office. A member of our team will watch your technique and give guidance as needed. You will also receive specific instructions for your lens solution, case hygiene, and the wearing schedule for your particular lens type. Learning safe handling from the start is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of eye infection.
A contact lens prescription looks different from a glasses prescription and includes information specific to how a lens performs on your eye. Understanding what each number means helps you order the correct lenses and recognize why substitutions need a proper check before you make them.
The prescription lists the optical power for each eye. A minus number corrects nearsightedness (difficulty seeing at a distance), and a plus number corrects farsightedness (difficulty seeing up close). If you have astigmatism (an irregular corneal shape that causes blurred vision), the prescription also includes a cylinder value and an axis number. These numbers are confirmed on your actual eye during the exam, not just estimated from the refractor measurement.
The base curve (listed as BC) describes the curvature of the inside of the lens, and the diameter (listed as DIA) describes how wide the lens is. These two numbers are matched to the shape of your cornea so the lens sits properly and moves correctly with each blink. The same power can feel comfortable in one lens and poorly fitting in another simply because the base curve or diameter is different. A glasses prescription does not include these measurements.
Contact lens prescriptions specify a particular brand and lens material, not just a generic type. Different brands with similar powers can have different water content, oxygen permeability, and edge designs, all of which affect comfort and long-term corneal health. The brand listed on your prescription is the one that was confirmed to fit your eye at the exam. Switching to a different brand requires a new fit check rather than an assumption that all similar lenses will perform the same way.
Your prescription includes an expiration date, typically around one year from the exam date. It also specifies whether your lenses are meant to be replaced daily, every two weeks, or monthly. These timelines are set based on the lens material and the health of your eyes, not just personal preference. Using lenses past their replacement schedule increases the risk of deposits building up on the lens surface and irritating the eye.
Ongoing care is part of responsible contact lens wear. Regular follow-up visits keep your prescription current, allow us to monitor eye health, and give you a chance to raise any comfort concerns before they become problems. Some situations, however, should not wait for a scheduled appointment.
Most contact lens wearers benefit from an exam about once a year. This visit updates the prescription if your vision has changed, reviews the fit of your current lenses, and allows our eye doctors to look for any early corneal changes caused by wear. Keeping up with annual exams is the most reliable way to catch small issues before they affect your vision or eye health.
If you are being fitted for contacts for the first time, we typically schedule a short follow-up visit one to two weeks after the initial exam. By that point, you will have been wearing the lenses through normal daily activities, which gives our eye doctors a much clearer picture of how the lens is actually performing on your eye. Small adjustments to the lens parameters are often made at this visit. This follow-up is part of the initial fitting process and is an expected step, not an indication that something went wrong.
Certain changes in how your eyes feel or see are a signal to contact us promptly rather than waiting for your next scheduled exam. These include worsening vision while wearing your contacts, increasing redness, new or growing eye pain, unusual sensitivity to light, discharge from the eye, or a noticeably shorter comfortable wear time. Any of these symptoms warrants a call to our office within a day or two so we can evaluate what is happening and protect your vision.
One of the most important reasons for consistent follow-up care is that some contact-lens-related changes develop slowly and cause no pain or noticeable vision change in the early stages. New blood vessels can grow into the cornea in response to reduced oxygen supply, and the cornea can subtly retain fluid over time. These changes are visible under our office microscope well before you would feel any symptoms. Yearly exams are the safety net that keeps these small findings from progressing into larger problems.
The following questions address details that often come up before or after a contact lens exam and help clarify what to do in specific situations.
If you are an existing contact lens wearer, wearing your lenses for at least an hour before the visit is generally helpful, unless our team asked you to arrive without them. Wearing the lenses lets us see how they are sitting on your eye and whether they are moving appropriately. If our team specifically requested that you remove your lenses beforehand, follow that guidance, as it usually means we want to take measurements without any lens-related changes to the corneal surface.
Whether dilating drops are used depends on the specific exam plan for your visit. If drops are used, your close-up vision may be blurry and your eyes may be more sensitive to light for a few hours afterward, which can make driving less comfortable. If you are unsure whether dilation will be part of your appointment, ask our team when you schedule so you can plan accordingly. Sunglasses will help with the light sensitivity if drops are used.
Many people with higher prescriptions, astigmatism, or presbyopia (age-related difficulty seeing up close) can be successfully fitted in contact lenses designed to address those needs. Toric lenses correct astigmatism, and multifocal contact lenses can reduce dependence on reading glasses. Our eye doctors will discuss what lens categories are appropriate for your prescription and lifestyle during the exam, including which options may require additional fitting visits to dial in the right parameters.
Finding that a lens is no longer the best option is not unusual, especially if your prescription has changed, your eyes have become drier, or you have started a new activity that affects how long you wear your lenses each day. When this happens, our eye doctors will walk through the alternatives with you, which may include a different lens material, a different brand, or a change to the replacement schedule. You will leave with a clear plan and a new trial supply to evaluate, rather than simply continuing with something that is not working well.
Many vision plans include a yearly contact lens exam benefit, though the details vary by plan. It is worth checking your benefits before your visit or allowing our team to verify your coverage when you call to schedule. Most plans separate the standard eye exam benefit from the contact lens fitting fee, so understanding both pieces in advance helps avoid any unexpected charges. We accept most major insurances and participate in the VSP network, and our team is happy to help clarify what your plan covers.
A gap in care is not a reason to delay coming back in. If you have been wearing the same contact lens prescription for an extended period without an exam, your prescription may have changed and your corneas may have experienced some quiet changes from continuous wear. Scheduling a visit lets us update your prescription, review the fit, and get you back onto a safe wearing schedule without any judgment about the time that has passed. Getting back into regular care is what matters most.
A properly fitted contact lens prescription protects your eye health and makes comfortable daily wear possible. Our team in Northern Virginia is ready to guide you through a thorough contact lens exam, whether you are a first-time wearer or returning for your annual visit. We combine experienced care with in-house optical services at our Reston location, making it easy to handle everything in one place. Reach out to us to schedule your appointment and take the next step toward clear, comfortable vision.
Find more information about our doctors, services, and technology that keep your eyes healthy and your vision at its best.