A contact-lens prescription is not the same as a glasses prescription, and you cannot use one to buy the other.
Glasses sit about twelve millimeters in front of your eye. A contact lens sits directly on it. That changes the power required, and it adds questions a glasses prescription never has to answer.
What a fitting adds
Beyond the prescription itself, a contact-lens fitting looks at:
- The curvature of your cornea. Lenses come in different base curves. A lens that is too flat or too steep will not sit correctly no matter how good the power is.
- Your tear film. Lenses depend on a stable layer of moisture. If your tear film is unstable, comfort drops off through the day.
- Corneal health. The cornea gets its oxygen from the air, so we check how it is tolerating lens wear.
- How the lens moves. A lens needs a small amount of movement with each blink. Too much and vision fluctuates, too little and the eye cannot clear debris underneath.
Choosing a lens type
We carry different brands and options, and the right one depends on your eyes and your day.
- Daily disposables. A fresh lens each day, nothing to clean. Often a good fit for occasional wear, allergies, or anyone who would rather not maintain lenses.
- Two-week and monthly lenses. Reused with a cleaning routine. Usually a lower ongoing cost for full-time wear.
- Toric lenses. For astigmatism. They are weighted to stay oriented, so fit matters more than usual.
- Multifocal lenses. For presbyopia, the near-focus change that starts in your forties.
If lenses have been uncomfortable in the past, that is worth raising. It is often a fit or tear-film problem rather than a reason to give up on lenses.
Why there is a follow-up visit
A follow-up is part of a good fitting.
A lens can look correct in the exam room and behave differently after eight hours of real wear. At the follow-up we check how the lens is sitting, how your cornea is responding, and how the lenses actually felt during your normal day.
That is when the fit gets adjusted, and it is the difference between lenses you tolerate and lenses you forget you are wearing.
When lenses stop being comfortable
If lenses you have worn for years have become harder to tolerate, the lens is often not the thing that changed.
Tear-film problems are a common cause, and they are treatable. We walk through the specific pattern in why contacts get uncomfortable by the end of the day. See dry eye treatment for what that evaluation involves.
Common questions
No. A contact-lens prescription includes the lens brand, base curve, and diameter, which only come from a fitting. See regular eye exam vs. contact-lens exam and what the numbers on your prescription mean.
Only if the lens is approved for it and the doctor has told you it is appropriate for your eyes. Sleeping in lenses that are not intended for it raises the risk of infection.
How do I reorder?
Existing patients can reorder prescribed contact lenses online. New patients should call the office to schedule an exam and fitting.
Often yes. It depends more on responsibility and hygiene than on age. We are happy to talk it through with you and your child.
What if I have astigmatism?
You can almost certainly wear contacts. Toric lenses are made for it.
Whether you are new to lenses or your current ones have stopped feeling right, we can help.
Request an appointment or call 805-925-9575.
