17 May Contact Lens Exam Basics

Contact Lens Exam Basics

Contact lenses offer convenience, comfort and the ability to go without glasses, for the most part. It is much easier to compete in sports or live an active lifestyle wearing contacts. Many people, especially those with higher prescriptions, prefer contact lenses to correct their vision. With that being said, contacts are never a substitute for eyeglasses. It is important to always have a current pair of prescription eyeglasses.

Some contact lens wearers have learned that lesson the hard way. Imagine, a wearer is on that coveted trip to Europe when they discover they are unable to wear their lenses due to a tear to a contact or cannot wear them for other reasons such as allergies. People who have difficulty without vision correction are suddenly in the soup. No contacts and no glasses! Now what? Spend time on your long-awaited vacation to try and arrange an eye exam. Hopefully, your French is good. Always travel with a pair of current eyeglasses and never pack them in your luggage. Once the airline loses your bag, it could be days or even after you’ve returned home before it is returned to you! So much for that view from the Eiffel Tower!

Part of the exam for contact lenses includes a fitting. The purpose of the fitting is to make sure that not only the visual acuity of the lens is good, but also the physical fit. No one wants to wear lenses that are uncomfortable or those that make your eyes feel dry. There is always an extra charge for a fitting commonly called a Fitting Fee. The cost of this fee varies based upon the type of prescription and lens type. Lenses that correct for an astigmatism, or toric lenses, will be a more expensive fitting fee than typical spherical lenses. Bifocal or multi-focal contact fits as well as hard RGP lenses will tend to be even more money. Insurance companies tend to believe that contacts are more cosmetic in nature so they will not cover the cost like they might with a spectacle exam. In many cases, they will cover a portion or maybe not at all.

It is important to get your contact lens prescription renewed annually. They expire after one year and are regulated by the FDA because they touch the body. In contrast, glasses are considered to be a medical appliance like a cane or a walker and are not regulated by the FDA. Without an annual eye exam, contacts cannot be purchased. Partly, due to the fact that half of the exam is dedicated to the health of the eye. Annual exams are key because the eye is the only organ that can be examined without surgery. From a routine eye exam an optometrist can detect lots of chronic conditions within the body such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy as well as many others. Without an annual exam, the chances are too great that diseases of the eye or body could be missed. Early detection is the key to wellness.

While contacts may be more convenient to wear, it’s so important to remember to care for the health of the eyes too. It may be tempting to try to find ways to skip the annual exam because the patient might think they know what lenses work for them, but remember, optometrists have their degrees for a reason—to care for the health, vision and wellness of patients.