Your Journey to Contact Lenses
Contact Lens Exams and Fittings
A strong foundation begins with a detailed evaluation of your eyes followed by measurements that guide us to the best lens for your needs.
Before considering contact lenses, we perform a comprehensive eye exam that checks visual acuity, depth perception, peripheral vision, and screens for conditions such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.
Because a contact lens rests on your cornea, a separate exam is needed. We take precise measurements to be sure the lens fits correctly, allows oxygen to reach the eye, and provides clear vision without harming eye health.
Glasses sit a short distance from your eyes while contacts rest directly on them. Extra measurements, including base curve and lens diameter, are required. By federal law, your finalized contact lens prescription is released to you and is usually valid for one year.
From children to adults, our practice offers specialized exams that match each stage of life and vision requirement.
What to Expect During Your Contact Lens Fitting
The fitting process is a partnership between you and our eye doctor, combining clinical data with your lifestyle goals.
We talk about your work, hobbies, and daily activities to determine whether you need options such as daily disposables, reusable lenses, or lenses suited for sports and digital device use.
Using instruments like a keratometer and corneal topographer, we measure the curvature of your cornea, map its surface, and record pupil and iris size so the selected lens aligns comfortably and accurately.
A healthy tear film is vital for comfort. We assess tear production, tear breakup time, and eyelid health, and recommend treatments or lens materials that help retain moisture when needed.
Trial lenses are inserted in-office so we can check movement and positioning. New wearers receive hands-on training to insert, remove, and care for lenses confidently.
After a trial period at home, you return for a follow-up so we can confirm fit, eye health, and visual clarity before issuing the final prescription.
Contact Lens Types and Technologies
Modern technology offers a wide range of lens materials, replacement schedules, and designs to match nearly every prescription and lifestyle.
Soft hydrogel lenses are the standard for comfort, while silicone hydrogel allows much more oxygen to reach the eye, making it the healthiest and most widely prescribed material.
Soft lenses are popular for comfort, but rigid gas permeable lenses provide crisp vision and durability, especially helpful for astigmatism or high prescriptions.
Hybrid lenses combine an RGP center with a soft skirt, and custom RGP lenses can be designed in large diameters or wavefront-guided formats for irregular corneas.
Daily disposables are worn for one day and discarded, eliminating cleaning routines and offering a fresh, hygienic lens each morning.
Reusable lenses are removed nightly for cleaning and are replaced every two weeks or every month, balancing cost with a commitment to daily hygiene.
Extended-wear lenses made from high-oxygen silicone hydrogel may be worn overnight, but continuous wear increases infection risk and must be discussed carefully.
Toric lenses have different powers in different meridians and are weighted to stay stable on the eye, giving clear vision at all distances for patients with astigmatism.
Multifocal lenses provide near, intermediate, and distance correction in one lens, while monovision corrects one eye for distance and the other for near tasks.
Specialty Lenses for Advanced Needs
Some eye conditions require lenses with unique designs and fitting techniques.
MiSight 1 Day is the first FDA-approved soft lens proven to slow myopia progression in children aged eight to twelve with prescriptions from minus 0.75 to minus 4.00 diopters.
Scleral lenses vault over the cornea and land on the sclera, creating a fluid reservoir that improves comfort and vision for keratoconus, severe dry eye, post-transplant irregularities, and corneal scarring.
Living with Contact Lenses: Safety and Daily Care
Successful wear depends on following key hygiene and maintenance guidelines every day.
Adhering to simple habits prevents most complications.
- Wash and dry hands thoroughly before handling lenses.
- Start with the same eye each time to avoid mix-ups.
- Never use saliva or water on your lenses.
After removing a lens, place it in your clean palm, apply fresh multipurpose solution, gently rub for fifteen to twenty seconds, then rinse before storing it in new disinfectant. Hydrogen-peroxide systems provide deep, preservative-free cleaning when needed.
Discard old solution each morning, rinse the case with fresh solution, let it air dry, and replace the case at least every three months to avoid microbial buildup.
Smart Safety Habits for Contact Lens Wear
Following these quick reminders keeps lenses comfortable and eyes healthy.
Unless specifically approved for overnight use, always take lenses out before bedtime because sleeping in non-approved lenses multiplies infection risk.
Water is not sterile. Remove lenses before bathing or using hot tubs to prevent microorganisms from becoming trapped under the lens.
Wear tight-fitting swim goggles or switch to glasses. If contacts are worn while swimming, discard daily lenses immediately afterward.
Wearing lenses longer than directed reduces oxygen flow and encourages deposit buildup, so follow daily, two-week, or monthly replacement timelines.
For reusable lenses, use fresh multipurpose or hydrogen-peroxide solution, never top off old solution, and let the case air-dry before refilling.
If you notice redness, pain, light sensitivity, discharge, or blurred vision that does not clear quickly, remove your lenses and seek professional care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to common questions that arise during contact lens wear.
Remove the lens and check whether it is inside-out or dirty. Rinse with fresh solution and reinsert. If discomfort persists, take the lens out and consult an eye care professional.
Blurry vision can result from mixing up right and left lenses, debris on the lens, or dryness. Clean the lens, use rewetting drops, and if blur remains, have your prescription evaluated.
A lens cannot get lost behind the eye. Rinse your eye with sterile saline or rewetting drops, blink several times, and remove the lens once it moves freely. If you cannot remove it, seek help.
No. Water contains microorganisms that can cause severe infections. If no solution is available, discard the lenses and wear glasses.
Yes. Vision and corneal health can change without symptoms. A yearly exam confirms that lenses fit properly and are not causing hidden problems.
Preservative-free rewetting drops, higher-oxygen silicone hydrogel materials, or daily disposable lenses often help. Persistent dryness should be evaluated to rule out underlying issues.
Maturity and hygiene matter more than age. Responsible teens, and some motivated younger children, can handle lenses safely after assessment of their ability to care for them.
Wearing lenses while ill or during severe allergies can increase discomfort and infection risk. Switching to glasses until symptoms resolve is safer.
Insert lenses before applying makeup and remove them before taking makeup off. Use oil-free, hypoallergenic products and replace eye cosmetics every three months.
Yes. The sterile solution and the lens material have expiration dates printed on the packaging. Discard any lenses or solution that have expired.
Carry lenses and travel-size solution in hand luggage. Store lenses only in a clean case filled with fresh disinfecting solution, never in water.
Cosmetic lenses are FDA-regulated medical devices and require a valid prescription even if they do not correct vision. Buying from unlicensed vendors increases risk of infection and injury.
Remove lenses immediately and consult an eye care professional if you experience persistent pain, redness, light sensitivity, discharge, or sudden vision changes.
Begin Your Contact Lens Journey with Confidence
Our eye care team is dedicated to providing advanced technology, personalized fittings, and ongoing support so you can enjoy clear, comfortable vision. We look forward to helping you experience the freedom that well-fitted contact lenses can bring.
Beyond impressed with staff and Dr. Second time staff quickly accommodated my children for emergency injuries. We were seen same day. Everyone is excellent. Dr. Bianchi is great with kids!
Danielle Ganter
Well-organized office, competent, professional service. Excellent experiences with Dr. Lee from surgery and follow-up annual exams.
Paul Storch
Dr. Bianchi is a breath of fresh air. Wonderful experience for our 1.5-year-old. He is kind, attentive, patient, and caring. Thank you for restoring my faith in healthcare, Dr. Bianchi!
Cara G.
Dr. Chin is the very best ophthalmologist anyone is lucky to have. I have been his patient for over 10 years.
Dorothy Chuang
Dr. Fleischer took the time to answer my questions. As he spoke, he made eye contact. He was warm and friendly.
Sarah Budd