Anyone who wants to wear contact lenses should schedule a contact lens exam with an eye care provider. A contact lens exam is similar to a regular eye exam, but it also includes additional tests to assess your eyes for contact lens wear.
Your provider will assess your eye health and determine the best type of contact lenses for your eyes.
History and medical evaluation. Your eye doctor will ask you about your eye health history and any current medical conditions you have. They will also perform a general eye exam to check your vision, eye pressure, and tear production.
Contact lens fitting. Your eye doctor will use a variety of instruments to measure your eyes and determine the best type of contact lenses for you. This may include using a keratometer to measure the curve of your cornea, a biomicroscope to examine your eyes under magnification, and a fluorescein tear test to check your tear production.
Trial lenses. Once your eye doctor has determined the best type of contact lenses for you, they will give you a few trial lenses to wear for a few days. This will help you see how the lenses feel and if they are comfortable for you to wear.
Follow-up appointment. After you have worn your trial lenses for a few days, you will return to your eye doctor for a follow-up appointment. Your eye doctor will check your eyes for any signs of irritation or discomfort, and they will make any necessary adjustments to your contact lens prescription.
