Contact Lens Prescription

What is a Contact Lens Exam?

A contact lens exam is an additional service that can be added to a routine exam to obtain a valid contact lens prescription. Yearly evaluation is legally required for all new and renewed contact lens prescriptions to ensure eye health and safety. 

Contact lens prescriptions are different from a glasses prescription because contact lenses sit directly on the eyes, which changes the way the power of the lens is calculated. Because of this, contact lens powers and glasses prescriptions may vary slightly.  

What is Part of a Contact Lens Evaluation?

The cornea is evaluated and a lens is selected based on material, modality, visual needs, and individual goals. To achieve this, your eye care provider will asses the following: 

• Corneal Shape and Size: We measure the curvature and diameter of your cornea to ensure that the contact lenses fit well and provide optimal comfort. This helps prevent issues such as lens displacement or irritation.
• Lens Type: Based on your eye health and lifestyle, we determine the most suitable type of contact lenses for you, whether they are daily, monthly, or specialty lenses.
• Lens Material: Different lens materials can impact how much oxygen gets to the eye and the comfort of the lens. The correct lens material ensures that eyes will not become dry, irritated, or oxygen deprived with contact lens use. 
• Lens Fitting: We ensure that lenses are fit properly based on your corneal measurements. Lenses that are too tight, too loose, or not properly centered can impact comfort, visual quality, and potentially lead to irritation and other complications. 
• Vision Assessment: We perform additional tests to fine-tune your prescription for contact lenses, which may differ slightly from your glasses prescription.

Contact Lens Prescription: 

Since contact lenses are medical devices, they require a prescription. This is similar to how a medication is prescribed. The prescription will specify the lens brand, power, parameters, and modality. Contact lens brands all use different materials and parameters, so contact lenses are not interchangeable. Changes to contact lens brand or prescription must be approved by your eye care provider. 

A sample contact lens is given for this evaluation. Trial contact lenses are for diagnostic purposes and are used to evaluate vision, comfort and fit before the contact lens is prescribed. 

Types of Contact Lenses

• Sphere Lenses: These are designed to correct nearsightedness (myopia) or farsightedness (hyperopia) by providing a uniform curvature across the lens. They are the most common type of contact lens and are suitable for those with simple refractive errors.
• Astigmatism Lenses (Toric Lenses): These lenses are specially designed to correct astigmatism, a condition where the cornea is irregularly shaped, causing blurred or distorted vision. Toric lenses have different powers in different meridians of the lens to match the eye's shape and provide clear vision.
• Monovision Lenses: Monovision lenses are used to correct presbyopia, a condition associated with aging where the eye’s ability to focus on close objects diminishes. In this approach, one lens is prescribed for distance vision and the other for near vision, allowing for improved focus at varying distances.
• Multifocal Lenses: These lenses are designed to address presbyopia by providing multiple focal points within a single lens. They allow for functional vision at various distances—near, intermediate, and far and reduce the need for reading glasses.
• Specialty RGP (Rigid Gas Permeable) / Scleral Lenses: RGP lenses are made from durable materials that allow oxygen to pass through to the eye, providing sharp vision and a stable fit. Scleral lenses are a type of RGP lens that is larger in diameter, resting on the sclera (the white part of the eye) rather than the cornea. They are ideal for individuals with complex vision needs, severe dry eye, or irregular corneas.

Contact Lens Exam Fees

Contact lens prescriptions are not considered part of a general eye exam. A contact lens fitting and evaluation can be added to a routine exam to obtain a new or renewed a contact lens prescription. These yearly evaluations are required by law. Contact lens exam fees are based on the type of lens that is selected. 

Contact our office to learn more about standard sphere and specialty astigmatism, monovision, multifocal, and RGP/scleral contact lens fitting fees. 

Vision Plan Benefits

While the contact lens exam fee is separate from your comprehensive eye exam, some vision plans may offer benefits or partial coverage for this service. Check with your vision plan provider or contact our office for more information on your vision plan contact lens benefits.