Are you considering switching from eyeglasses to contact lenses? Here’s everything you need to know about a contact lens fitting appointment and how our Calgary optometrists can help ensure you find the best fit for your needs.
For patients of all ages, contact lenses can be a great alternative to wearing eyeglasses. When taken care of properly, contacts are very safe and comfortable to wear and can offer numerous benefits, including:
Whether you want to wear them for the majority of the day, or only on special occasions or weekends, contact lenses will give you enormous flexibility and convenience.
At our Calgary eye clinic, we make it easy and safe to switch from eyeglasses to contact lenses. During a comprehensive contact lens fitting, we can find the best type and fit of lens for you and teach you how to safely put in and take out your lenses and take care of them to avoid infections.
In addition to this, we offer a range of other services including emergency eye care, glaucoma testing, and dry eye care to ensure your vision always remains clear and protected.
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If you decide to wear contact lenses, it is critical that the lenses fit properly and comfortably and that you fully understand all the safety and hygiene requirements prior to handling your lenses. That’s why having a contact lens fitting exam with your optometrist is so important.
This appointment will include a comprehensive eye exam to check your overall eye health and prescription, as well as a contact lens consultation and measurement to determine the proper lens fit.
Prior to your contact lens fitting, it’s important to have an eye exam so that your eye doctor can check for any eye health issues that may interfere with the comfort of contact lens wear, and so they can determine the correct prescription required for your lenses. This will ensure the most successful outcome when you are switching from eyeglasses to contact lenses.
One of the initial steps in a contact lens fitting exam is discussing your lifestyle and health considerations with your eye doctors, and deciding which type of contact lens is right for you. Some options to consider include:
Based on these, and several other factors, your eye doctor can make recommendations for the right type or brand that will give you optimal vision and comfort.
When it comes to contact lenses, one size doesn’t fit all. Your eye doctor will need to take some measurements to properly fit your contact lenses. This is important because contact lenses that don’t fit properly can lead to discomfort or blurry vision, or they could even potentially damage your eyes.
Here are some measurements your eye doctor will need to take:
1. Tear film evaluation. If your lenses are not kept adequately hydrated, they will become uncomfortable and cause dry, itchy eyes. Particularly if you have dry eye syndrome, your eye doctor will want to make sure that you have sufficient tear film to keep your lenses moist, otherwise contact lenses might not be suitable for you.
2. Corneal curvature. Your eye doctor will measure the curvature of your cornea, or front surface of your eye, to determine the appropriate curve for your contact lenses. If you have astigmatism, the curvature of your cornea is not perfectly round, and your eye doctor might suggest toric lenses.
Toric Contact Lenses for Astigmatism
3. Pupil or iris size. Your optometrist may also measure the size of your pupil or iris. This measurement is particularly important if you are considering specialized lenses such as gas permeable ones.
Contact Lenses for the Hard-to-Fit Patient
After deciding which type of lenses would work best for you, you may have to try on a pair of the lenses to confirm the fit and comfort before finalizing and ordering your lenses. In addition to this, your eye doctor will provide care and hygiene instructions, including how to insert and remove your lenses, how long to wear them for, and how to store them, so you can wear your lenses safely.
9 THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER DO WITH YOUR CONTACT LENSES
To find out more about our contact lens fitting service, and how our optometrists can make your transition from eyeglasses to contact lenses as comfortable, easy, and safe as possible, contact us at our Crowfoot (403-547-5417), West Springs (403-242-0999) or Creekside (403-516-2292) branches.
Blink Eyewear boasts the largest collection of eyewear in Calgary, but our 4 locations are also home to the region’s finest optometrists. Just as you will not find a better store to shop for your eyewear, you will not find a better vision clinic to do your eye exam or treat your eye condition.
Go ahead and Blink; what you see is really what you get. Call one of our store numbers or fill out the form below to book an appointment.