Contact Lens exams -- keeping your eyes healthy and comfortable:
If you wear contact lenses, an annual contact lens exam is just as important as your routine eye exam. While a regular eye exam focuses on overall eye health and vision correction, a contact lens exam adds another step to ensure that your lenses fit properly, function well, and continue to provide clear, comfortable vision. Even if you’ve been wearing the same brand or type of lenses for years, your eyes can change, and an annual exam ensures you're getting the best care for your unique needs.
What is involved in your contact lens exam?
A contact lens exam isn’t just a simple update to your prescription. In addition to checking your vision, we’ll assess how well your current lenses fit your eyes and whether there are any issues such as dryness, irritation, or discomfort. We may also check for any signs of eye infections or complications that could arise from wearing contacts, like corneal abrasions or infections caused by improper lens care.
During this part of the exam, we will take extra time to evaluate the fit of your current lenses and may perform additional tests like measuring your tear production or evaluating how well your lenses move on your cornea. We’ll also review your contact lens wear habits and offer advice on how to properly care for your lenses to prevent irritation and infection. If a prescription change is needed, we’ll make sure you get the best lenses for your vision and lifestyle.
During this part of the exam, we will take extra time to evaluate the fit of your current lenses and may perform additional tests like measuring your tear production or evaluating how well your lenses move on your cornea. We’ll also review your contact lens wear habits and offer advice on how to properly care for your lenses to prevent irritation and infection. If a prescription change is needed, we’ll make sure you get the best lenses for your vision and lifestyle.
why is this portion of your exam important?
Your eyes and vision can change year after year, and so can your prescription. Even small changes in your corneal shape or eye health can affect how your contacts fit and feel, so it’s essential to get fitted for lenses that match your current eye health. A proper fit ensures that your contacts stay comfortable throughout the day, maintain optimal vision, and minimize the risk of complications. By regularly monitoring the health of your eyes and the fit of your lenses, you can avoid problems like eye strain, dryness, and even long-term damage to your cornea. Also, while standard glasses prescriptions are valid for two years, contact lens prescriptions are only valid for one. Therefore, it is very important to get in and get re-checked on time!
Costs and insurance coverage:
Many insurance plans provide partial or full coverage for contact lens exams. However, depending on your provider and plan, out-of-pocket costs for this portion of the exam can cost up to $60. This fee often reflects the added time and resources needed to thoroughly assess your lenses, eye health, and prescription needs. Your provider or our front desk staff will be the ones to tell you of any additional charges concerning your contact lens exam during the check-out process.