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Patricia Shank
Contact Lens Exam
What to Expect at a Contact Lens Exam
A contact lens exam is more involved than a routine eye exam, and knowing what to expect helps you get the most out of your visit. At NewView Eye Center, we guide patients through every step, from your first measurements to your trial lens fitting, so you leave with lenses that are safe, comfortable, and right for your eyes.
Whether you are new to contact lenses or due for your yearly check, this page walks you through exactly what happens and why it matters.
How a Contact Lens Exam Differs From a Routine Eye Exam
01
Additional Measurements Are Taken
We measure the curvature of your cornea, the size of your eye opening, and the health of your tear film — details a glasses prescription never needs, but that decide how a lens sits and feels.
02
A Trial Lens Is Placed on Your Eye
Our eye doctors place a test lens on each eye and study it under a slit lamp microscope, checking how it centers, moves with each blink, and sits on your cornea.
03
Contact Lenses Are Medical Devices
The FDA classifies contacts as medical devices because they sit directly on the cornea. The exam is the required process for issuing a legal, valid contact lens prescription.
04
Eye Health Is Evaluated at the Same Visit
The exam still covers everything in a routine visit — examining the back of the eye, screening for glaucoma, and catching any subtle corneal changes from previous wear.
What Your Contact Lens
Prescription Contains
A contact lens prescription looks different from a glasses prescription and includes information specific to how a lens performs on your eye. Understanding each number helps you order the correct lenses.
What Happens During Your Appointment
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.
01
Your Health History and Wearing Habits
We begin with your eye health, allergies, medications, and how you use your lenses. Bring your current lens boxes, or think about the activities you want your contacts to support.
02
Vision Measurement and Eye Health Checks
Our eye doctors measure your prescription with a refractor. In many cases, dilating drops give a clear view of the retina and natural lens, so bring sunglasses — dilation can blur close-up vision for a few hours.
03
Corneal Measurements and Tear Film Evaluation
A topographer or keratometer maps the precise curvature of your cornea. We also evaluate your tear film using fluorescein dye under a blue light, which guides the lens material we recommend for all-day comfort.
04
Trial Lens Placement and Fit Review
A trial pair is placed on your eyes and allowed to settle, then checked under the slit lamp to confirm the fit. If adjustment is needed, a different base curve, diameter, or brand is tried the same day.
05
Handling and Care Training for New Wearers
First-time wearers practice inserting and removing the lenses before leaving, with guidance from our team. You will also receive specific instructions for your solution, case hygiene, and wearing schedule.
Follow-Up Visits & Warning Signs
Ongoing care is part of responsible contact lens wear. Regular follow-up visits keep your prescription current and catch small issues early — but some situations should not wait.
Most wearers benefit from an exam about once a year. This visit updates your prescription, reviews the fit of your current lenses, and lets our eye doctors look for any early corneal changes caused by wear.
New wearers are typically seen one to two weeks after the initial exam. By then you have worn the lenses through normal activities, giving a clearer picture of the fit. Small adjustments at this visit are expected, not a sign anything went wrong.
Contact us promptly for worsening vision while wearing your contacts, increasing redness, new or growing eye pain, unusual light sensitivity, discharge, or a shorter comfortable wear time. Any of these warrants a call within a day or two.
Some contact-related changes develop slowly with no pain or noticeable symptoms — new blood vessels growing into the cornea, or the cornea retaining fluid. These are visible under our microscope well before you would feel them, which is why yearly exams matter.
Frequently asked questions
Details that often come up before or after a contact lens exam, and what to do in specific situations.
If you already wear contacts, wearing them for at least an hour before your visit is usually helpful, since it lets us see how they sit and move on your eye, unless our team asked you to arrive without them. If we specifically requested you remove them, follow that guidance.
It depends on whether dilating drops are used. If they are, your close-up vision may be blurry and your eyes more light-sensitive for a few hours, which can make driving less comfortable. Ask when you schedule, and bring sunglasses just in case.
Often, yes. Toric lenses correct astigmatism and multifocal lenses can reduce dependence on reading glasses. Our eye doctors will discuss which options suit your prescription and lifestyle, including any that need extra fitting visits to dial in the right parameters.
That is not unusual, especially if your prescription changed, your eyes became drier, or a new activity affects your wear time. We will walk through the alternatives — a different material, brand, or replacement schedule — and send you home with a new trial supply and a clear plan.
Many vision plans include a yearly contact lens exam benefit, though the details vary by plan. Most plans separate the standard eye exam from the contact lens fitting fee. We accept most major insurances, participate in the VSP network, and can verify your coverage when you call.
A gap in care is no reason to delay. Your prescription may have changed and your corneas may have quiet changes from continuous wear. We will update your prescription, review the fit, and get you back on a safe wearing schedule — no judgment about the time that has passed.
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Sunday: Closed
Monday: 8:30AM-5PM
Tuesday: 8:30AM-5PM
Wednesday: 8:30AM-5PM
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