Contacts For Bad Vision: What To Expect During The Eye Exam

13 March 2015
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Do you have a hard time seeing but avoid getting your eyes examined because you don't want to wear eyeglasses? You may find that wearing contacts is a better option, but you will first have to get your eyes examined to determine if you are a good candidate for contacts. In this article, learn about the eye exam for wearing contacts to decide if you want to go through the process to correct your vision.

What Happens During an Eye Exam for Contacts?

You will have to go through some of the same tests that are performed during an eye examination for glasses, plus a few additional tests. One of the tests is called a visual acuity exam, which consists of using an eye chart to determine how bad your vision is. You will simply read aloud the letters that you are able to see on the eye chart, which are aligned in rows of multiple different sizes. Don't squint your eyes during the exam because the main point is to see what you can read clearly before the letters become blurry.

The cornea in both of your eyes will also be examined by the optometrist. He or she will look into your eyes with a small light to see if there are irregularities or signs of a condition requiring medical attention. It is not uncommon for a cornea to be irregular with blurred vision, as it is the main reason vision is blurred. The irregular cornea prevents light from making it to the retina as it should.

The optometrist will also measure the cornea in each of your eyes to make sure the right size of contacts is chosen. A device called a keratometer is used to manually measure each cornea. However, corneal topography (a computerized test) will also be performed to make sure the measurements are precise.

Do Contacts Have to Be Removed Each Day?

Contacts will be worn based on the type chosen, as some of them can be worn for more than a day. It is important for you to remove contacts each night before bed if you don't have the ones designed for extended wear. Make sure you discuss with the optometrist what your preference is so the appropriate prescription can be written for your contacts. Don't forget that you can opt for both glasses and contacts if you don't like the idea of putting contacts in all of the time!

Speak to experts like Brooks Eyecare for more information.