When preparing for an eye appointment, contact lens wearers should wear their lenses upon arrival. The examination is a two-part process: the lenses are needed for the initial evaluation but must be removed later for accurate measurements. This allows the eye care professional to assess both the lens function and the natural state of the eye.
Evaluating Your Current Contact Lenses
Wearing your contact lenses upon arrival is necessary for the initial phase of the exam, which focuses on evaluating the lens-eye relationship. The eye care professional uses a specialized microscope called a slit lamp to observe how the lens rests and moves on the surface of your eye. This assessment checks the physical fit, ensuring the lens diameter and base curve are appropriate for your corneal shape. A poorly fitting lens can cause discomfort and compromise corneal health.
The doctor also assesses the tear exchange beneath the lens, which delivers oxygen and removes debris from the eye’s surface. The professional examines the lens for surface deposits, tears, or protein buildup that can affect clarity and cause irritation. Observing your visual acuity while wearing the lenses measures how well the existing prescription is performing. This evaluation dictates whether a change in lens material, design, or care regimen is needed.
Allowing the Cornea to Stabilize
After the initial evaluation, you must remove your contact lenses so the eye doctor can perform an accurate refraction test and assess the eye’s surface health. This lens-free time is necessary because contact lenses, particularly soft lenses, temporarily alter the shape and curvature of the cornea. This phenomenon, sometimes called corneal molding, occurs when the lens slightly reshapes the front surface due to pressure or reduced oxygen flow.
For an accurate measurement of your new prescription, the cornea must be allowed to return to its natural shape. The time required for stabilization varies, but most eye care professionals recommend removing soft contact lenses 10 to 20 minutes before refraction testing. If you wear rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses, the required period is much longer, often several weeks, because RGP lenses exert a greater physical influence. Failing to allow for this stabilization results in an inaccurate prescription, leading to suboptimal vision.
Essential Items to Prepare for the Appointment
Since you will remove your contact lenses during the appointment, bring your current eyeglasses to wear for the remainder of the visit and afterward. Without glasses, you cannot see clearly during the examination or drive home safely. You must also bring the case and solution to safely store your contact lenses after removal.
Having specific details about your current lenses is helpful, especially if you are a new patient or considering a brand change. Bring the foil wrappers or boxes from your contact lenses. This provides the doctor with the exact brand name, material, base curve, and diameter of your current lenses. This information streamlines the comparison process and ensures new trial lenses are based on the correct parameters.