Contact Lens Exam
Can I wear contact lenses?
Almost everyone can wear contact lenses and enjoy the benefits that they offer. Some people choose to wear contact lenses every day, while others wear them only on weekends, special occasions or for sports. Contact lenses allow you the freedom and flexibility to do whatever it is you love with clear, comfortable vision.
The benefits of contact lenses:
- Contact lenses move with your eyes, allowing a wider field of vision, with no frames to obstruct your vision.
- They are excellent for sports and other physical activities.
- They don’t fog up or get splattered by mud or rain.
- They allow you to wear non prescription sunglasses.
Kids & contact lenses
Contact lenses can be suitable for all ages and may be a better option than glasses – especially for active children. We may also use contact lenses for myopia control to slow down how quickly your child’s prescription is progressing.
There’s no official age when a child can start wearing contact lenses. Children are quick learners and have proven to be just as capable at wearing contact lenses as adults. If you think your child is responsible enough to clean, care, and handle contact lenses on their own or with a little supervision and support, then ask your optometrist about it. There is a good chance your child is ready!
If you or your child are interested in getting started with contact lenses, see us for a contact lens assessment. We will talk you through the process and help you to decide whether contact lenses would be a good idea for your child. We’ll also make recommendations for the best type of lens depending on your child’s lifestyle, prescription, usage, and wearing time.
How to get contact lenses
Whether you’re just getting started with contacts or you’ve worn them for years, it’s good to know what to expect at a contact lens fitting. There are a few extra tests to make sure your contact lenses are the perfect fit for you.
First, we will do a complete eye examination to get you the most up to date glasses prescription and make sure your eyes are healthy so you can wear lenses safely. We will ask you questions about your lifestyle and take precise measurements of your eye to help us decide what type of lens suits you. Your contact lens prescription will not be the same as your glasses prescription, so you’ll need to have a contact lens assessment to determine what kind of prescription you’ll need.
If you are new to contact lenses, we will schedule one-on-one time to teach you how to insert and remove your lenses and show you how to take care of them. Once you feel comfortable doing this on your own, or if you’re an experienced contact lens wearer, we will then complete the contact lens fitting assessment where we will test your vision, ensure you are comfortable with your new lenses, and use a microscope to make sure your lenses are fitting you properly.
If you are happy with your contact lenses, we will give you free trial contact lenses to take home so you can try them for a few days before you buy.
When you’re happy with your contacts, we will finalize your prescription and you can place your order in-office, over the phone, or online. If the contact lenses aren’t quite right for you, don’t worry. We may need to try a few different contact lenses before we find the perfect pair.
Did you know?
Contact lenses are not one size fits all. Every eye has a unique shape and wearing contact lenses that are the wrong size or shape can damage your eyes.
Types of contact lenses
We offer many different types and brands of contact lenses and picking one will depend on your lifestyle and prescription. We will help you to decide which are the best contact lenses for your needs.
Daily disposable contact lenses are one of the most convenient types of lenses because you don’t need to worry about using solutions or cleaning them. They are inserted on the eye every morning and thrown away every night, meaning you’ll use a fresh, new lens every time.
This type of lens is usually preferred for children, for travelling as there are no solutions to pack, for use during allergy season, and for people with active lifestyles.
These contact lenses are intended to be worn for two weeks. They are inserted on the eye every morning and taken out each night to be cleaned and stored overnight in a disinfecting lens solution. After two weeks, the lenses are thrown away and you’ll start a fresh pack.
These contact lenses are intended to be worn for one month. They are inserted on the eye every morning and taken out each night to be cleaned and stored overnight in a disinfecting lens solution. After one month, the lenses are thrown away and you’ll start a fresh pack. You’ll only need 12 pairs of lenses for the whole year and fewer lenses mean they may be better value.
Coloured contact lenses allow you to enhance your natural eye colour, make your eyes look larger, or change the colour of your eyes entirely. Coloured lenses are available with or without a prescription and as dailies or monthlies.
Astigmatism is a common condition related to the shape of the eye causing blurred vision. Toric contact lenses are specially designed to fit the shape of astigmatic eyes.
Around age 40, everyone goes through a process of losing their ability to focus up close without the help of readers, progressive, or bifocal glasses. This is called “presbyopia” and it happens to all of us. Multifocal contact lenses are for those who enjoy wearing contact lenses and want to avoid wearing reading glasses on top of their contact lenses. Multifocal contact lenses allow you to easily switch from far, to near, and in-between without the need for additional glasses.
This type of lens can also be used for myopia control for children.
These contact lenses have blue light blocking technology that reduce the feeling of tired eyes and eye strain from digital devices. Innovative technologies maximizing moisture retention and minimizing light scatter mean all day comfort and clear, reliable vision in today’s digitally intensive lifestyle.
Transition contact lenses quickly and seamlessly adapt by getting darker or lighter in response to changing light conditions in the same way transitions on glasses work. This helps your eyes adjust to challenging light environments, such as when playing sports, working under uncomfortable office lighting, or adjusting to digital screens.
Suffering from itchy eyes as a result of seasonal or perennial allergies can make contact lens wear uncomfortable. Acuvue Theravision with Ketotifen is the first and only medication-releasing contact lens for patients who need vision correction and itchy eye relief. This daily disposable lens provides fast-acting and long-lasting relief for up to 12 hours.
This contact lens can be prescribed for use during allergy season and patients can then switch back to their normal lenses.
Even if you’ve been told you can’t wear contact lenses due to the size, shape, or condition of your eyes, we may be able to help. Specialty contact lenses are available to address dry eyes, severe astigmatism, and more.