A medical or legal requirement does not exist forcing a person to wear glasses first before getting contact lenses. Both are valid forms of vision correction, and an eye care professional can fit a patient with contact lenses even if they have never worn glasses. The primary consideration is whether the eye is healthy and can tolerate the lens material.
Is Wearing Glasses First Necessary
The idea that wearing glasses first is mandatory is a misconception, often stemming from advice given to new patients. While not a prerequisite, a current and accurate prescription is mandatory before any contact lens fitting can occur. Contact lenses are classified as medical devices and require a specific prescription.
A glasses prescription is fundamentally different from a contact lens prescription. Eyeglasses sit about 12 millimeters away from the eye’s surface, a distance known as the vertex distance, which affects the power of the lens. Contact lenses rest directly on the cornea, requiring a different power calculation, especially for stronger prescriptions, to achieve the same visual clarity. A contact lens prescription also includes specific measurements like the base curve and diameter, which are not found on a glasses prescription.
Why Eyeglasses Remain Essential
Even though glasses are not required beforehand, every contact lens wearer must own a current pair of eyeglasses as an essential backup. There are many circumstances where contact lenses must be removed, and the wearer still needs clear vision for safety and daily function. These situations include eye infections, severe allergies, or any form of ocular irritation that requires the eye to rest and heal.
Wearing glasses provides a break for the ocular surface, promoting long-term eye health by allowing the cornea to access oxygen freely. A current pair of glasses is also needed for times when a lens is lost, torn, or when the maximum recommended wearing time has been reached.
The Contact Lens Fitting Process
Obtaining contact lenses begins with a comprehensive eye examination to ensure the eyes are healthy for lens wear. This is followed by a specialized contact lens fitting, which involves taking precise measurements of the eye’s unique contours. The eye care professional uses an instrument called a keratometer to measure the curvature of the cornea, which determines the base curve of the contact lens needed for a proper fit.
The tear film quality is also evaluated because a dry or unstable tear film can significantly impact lens comfort and wear time. Based on these measurements and the patient’s lifestyle, trial lenses are selected, which the patient wears for a short period to assess the fit, movement, and comfort on the eye. The doctor observes how the lens interacts with the eye, looking for adequate movement with each blink, which is typically a lag of 0.5 to 1 millimeter.
A mandatory training session is included in the fitting process to teach the patient safe insertion, removal, and cleaning techniques. A follow-up appointment is typically scheduled after a few days to ensure the lenses continue to fit well and are not causing any harm to the eye. The final, specific contact lens prescription, which is brand-specific and contains all the required parameters, is issued only after a successful fitting and evaluation.
Contact Lens Safety and Hygiene
Maintaining strict safety and hygiene practices is non-negotiable for all contact lens wearers to prevent serious eye infections. Hands must be thoroughly washed with soap and water and dried before handling the lenses to avoid transferring bacteria. Only fresh, sterile contact lens solution recommended by the eye care professional should be used for cleaning and storage.
Lenses must be rubbed and rinsed with solution to remove deposits before being placed in the storage case. Tap water, saliva, or non-sterile saline should never be used on contact lenses or their cases, as they can harbor harmful microbes like Acanthamoeba. The lens case itself should be rinsed with fresh solution and air-dried after each use, and replaced entirely every three to six months.
Contact lenses must be worn and replaced according to the doctor’s prescribed schedule (daily, bi-weekly, or monthly disposable lenses). Sleeping in lenses is generally discouraged unless they are specific extended-wear types approved for overnight use. If any symptoms like redness, pain, or blurred vision occur, the lenses must be immediately removed and a doctor consulted.