Contact lenses
Choose a lens type to learn more
Every type starts with the same visit. Read what each is for, then book a fitting and the doctor takes it from there.
Two visits in one
An eye exam and a contact lens fitting are different
If you wear contacts you get both. They check different things, and they are billed differently.
| Eye exam | Contact lens fitting | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is for | Eye examYour vision and the health of your eyes | Contact lens fittingHow a lens sits and moves on your eye |
| What the doctor measures | Eye examPrescription, eye pressure, the inside and outside of the eye | Contact lens fittingCurve and size of the front of the eye, tear film, how a trial lens fits |
| What you take home | Eye examA glasses prescription | Contact lens fittingA trial pair, then a contact lens prescription |
| Follow-up | Eye examAs the doctor schedules it | Contact lens fittingA check visit after a week or two |
| Usually billed to | Eye examA vision plan, or medical insurance for an eye problem | Contact lens fittingThe fitting is billed separately; some plans pay toward it |
Trial-lens policy
You wear a trial pair before you order
A lens that looks right in the chair can feel different by Thursday afternoon. So the trial pair goes home with you.
In writing, before you leave
How long to wear the trial pair, and how to care for it
When your check visit is
What to do if a lens feels wrong: take it out and call us
What the fitting, the trial pair and the lenses each include
Your prescription
Your contact lens prescription is yours
When your fitting is finished we give you a copy of the prescription. You don't have to ask, and you don't have to buy lenses from us. Take it to any seller you like.
Questions
Contact lens questions
How long does a fitting take?
Plan on about an hour and a half for a first fitting with an exam. A check visit after the trial pair is shorter.
What if my first trial pair isn't right?
Tell us at the check visit. The doctor changes the lens or the fit and you try another pair before anything is ordered.
How long is a contact lens prescription good for?
The prescription says when it ends. The doctor sets the date after your fitting and tells you.
Can I order from an online seller?
Yes. Your prescription is yours. A seller may call us to confirm it, and we answer their request.
What should I do if my eye is red or sore with lenses in?
Take the lenses out and call us. If you have sudden vision loss, or an eye injury or chemical splash, follow the notice on this page.
- Sudden vision loss, flashes of light, a curtain over your vision, a chemical splash or an eye injury needs care now. Call our office right away or go to an emergency room. If you can't reach us, call 911.
Ready for a fitting?
Send us your name and number, or call. We will find a time that fits your week.