What should I expect during the fitting process?

The contact lens fitting process is an essential part of ensuring that your lenses provide optimal comfort, vision, and eye health. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of what to expect during the fitting:

1. Learning to Insert, Remove, and Care for Lenses

Once the fitting is complete, your doctor will show you how to:

Insert and Remove the Lenses: They will guide you through the process of safely inserting and removing your lenses, ensuring you feel comfortable doing it on your own.
Proper Care and Hygiene: You’ll be taught how to clean, store, and disinfect your lenses properly to avoid infections or eye irritation.

2. Discussion of Your Lifestyle and Preferences

Your doctor will ask questions to understand your lifestyle and specific needs, such as:

Daily Activities: Do you play sports, spend a lot of time on a computer, or need reading glasses?
Eye Health: Do you have any issues like dry eyes, allergies, or other conditions?
Lens Type Preferences: Do you prefer daily disposables, extended wear, or a specialized type like multifocal lenses?

This will help the doctor recommend the best type of contact lenses for your needs.

3. Measurement of Your Eyes

For the lenses to fit correctly, precise measurements of your eyes are taken, including:

Corneal Shape & Curvature: The doctor will use a keratometer or topographer to measure the shape and curvature of your cornea. This is crucial for selecting the right type of lens, especially if you have astigmatism or irregular corneas.
Pupil and Iris Size: These measurements help determine how the lenses will sit on your eye and affect your peripheral vision.
Eyelid Shape and Size: Your doctor will assess how your eyelids interact with your eyes to ensure a comfortable fit for the lenses.

4. Trial Lens Fitting

After taking measurements, you’ll be given trial lenses to wear for a short period. During this time:

Vision Check: Your doctor will assess how well you see with the lenses on, asking about your comfort and clarity of vision.
Comfort Test: You’ll be asked how the lenses feel. Do they feel too tight or loose? Are they causing discomfort, dryness, or irritation?
Lens Movement: The doctor will check how the lenses move with each blink to ensure they fit properly on your eyes.

5. Evaluation and Adjustments

If the trial lenses feel comfortable and provide clear vision, the doctor will proceed with the final fitting. If not:

Adjustments May Be Made: The doctor may try different types of lenses (e.g., toric lenses for astigmatism, multifocal lenses for presbyopia) or adjust the fit (e.g., changing the curvature or diameter).
Check for Proper Fit: The doctor will ensure that the lenses do not shift too much on your eye and that they are centered correctly.

6. Follow-Up Appointments only if needed

After your initial fitting, you may have a follow-up appointment to ensure that everything is going well with your lenses:

Comfort Check: Your doctor will ask if you’re experiencing any irritation or discomfort.
Vision Clarity: They will ensure your vision is still clear and that the lenses are performing well in different lighting and situations.
Re-ordering Lenses: If all goes well, you’ll be able to reorder your lenses, whether they are daily disposables, extended wear, or specialty lenses.

8. Ongoing Care and Monitoring

Once you're comfortable with your contact lenses, you should have regular eye exams to:

Monitor the health of your eyes and the effectiveness of the lenses.
Update your prescription as needed to keep your vision clear and your eyes healthy.
Address any potential issues, such as dry eye or lens fit, before they become problematic.

Important Points to Keep in Mind:

Patience Is Key: It might take a few tries to find the right lens and fit. If something feels off, don’t hesitate to reach out to your eye doctor for adjustments.
Wear Schedule: Initially, you may be advised to wear the lenses for only a few hours per day to let your eyes adjust. Over time, you can increase wear time.
Comfort Matters: If your lenses are uncomfortable or cause irritation, it’s important to notify your eye doctor right away to prevent further issues.

By following this process, you'll have the right contact lenses for your eyes and lifestyle, leading to clear, comfortable vision!