Eye Exam vs. Contact Lens Exam

Eye Exam vs. Contact Lens Exam

A contact lens eye exam is not the same as a routine eye exam. A contact lens exam is necessary for contact lens users to ensure the lenses properly fit and function well. It is also a way to ensure the contacts do not harm your eyes. But before taking a closer look at what entails both exams, here is a closer look at their similarities.

Comprehensive and Contact Lens Similarities

A contact lens exam and a comprehensive eye exam have some similarities. For example, they both help your eye doctor determine the right prescription for you by evaluating your vision. Additionally, your optometrist will use specialized equipment during the exams to determine how well your eyes work together and how your vision fairs at different distances.

Both these assessments also evaluate your pupils’ response to light and other vision assessments. Your eye doctor will then use the evaluations to determine what the right prescription is for your vision needs.

Comprehensive Eye Exams

Whether or not you need vision correction, a comprehensive eye exam is an essential part of your overall eye health. By closely examining your eyes, your optometrist can detect signs of serious health issues like diabetes and hypertension.

What an Eye Exam Entails

During this eye exam, your eye doctor will:
 

• Perform tests to determine your vision sharpness.
   

• Check for signs of glaucoma.
   

• Evaluate your eyes’ coordination.
   

• Check the fluid pressure in your eye.
   

• Determine the strength of your prescription.

In addition to the above, your eye doctor might also dilate your eyes to better detect signs of any serious health issues.

Contact Lens Exam

In addition to a comprehensive eye exam, you need a contact lens eye exam if you are a contact lens wearer. Your optometrist conducts special contact lens exams to evaluate your vision with contact lenses. They start the test by measuring the surface of your eye.

It helps determine what size and type of lenses are right for you. You may also undergo a tear film exam, ensuring you have ample tears to comfortably wear contact lenses.

Fitting Contact Lenses

With the results, your optometrist can go ahead and provide a fitting contact lens prescription. Contact lens prescriptions significantly differ from eyeglasses prescriptions. They cannot substitute each other since contact lenses sit directly on the surface of your eye.

On the other hand, eyeglasses sit about 12 mm from your eye. It is therefore imperative that your eye doctor gets the correct measurements. An incorrect prescription or improper fitting of contact lenses is harmful to your eye health.

In Conclusion

Whether you need a contact lens exam or a comprehensive eye exam, you need the expertise of a qualified eye doctor. While you may require a contact eye exam when you initially switch to contact lenses or need a stronger prescription, regularly going for comprehensive eye exams is essential. It ensures your eye doctor closely evaluates your eye health to detect and treat any eye issues that may be developing.

For more on eye exams vs. contact lens exams, visit Trinity Vision Center at our office in Walla Walla. You can also call (509) 260-3500 today to book an appointment.