Want to start wearing contact lenses? Find out what to expect at your eye exam and contact lens fitting. Read more.
How to get contact lenses?
Before you can start wearing contact lenses, you will need to book an appointment with your optician to be fitted for contact lenses. In most cases, you will need an eye exam prior to the contact lenses fitting. Make sure you ask your optician for a combined appointment.
Here's what you can expect at your eye examination and lens fitting
Eye Examination
Next you'll begin the actual eye examination. This consists of a series of tests to determine your eye health and your current vision. Your optician will test your eyes together and/or one at a time for a number of different things: general vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, muscle actions, eye pressure and so on. At the end of this exam, your optician will provide you with a prescription to correct your vision. You are then ready to be fitted with contact lenses.
Contact lens fitting
Eyes come in different sizes and shapes, so you need to have an accurate “fitting” to make sure your lenses will fit your eyes properly. To do this, your optician will take special measurements of your eye and its surface, checking for curvature and other factors that will affect how your lenses fit.
How dry your eyes are is also very important in determining which type of contact lenses is best for you. You optician may advise using ACUVUE® OASYS® with HYDRACLEAR® Plus (reusable lenses) or 1•DAY ACUVUE® TruEye™ (daily disposable lenses) to help avoid increased dryness.
Finally, your cornea will be carefully examined to make sure there aren’t any problems that could make it hard for you to wear contact lenses.
Next, trial lenses will be applied to your eyes so your optician can see how well they fit. It takes time for lenses to “settle” on your eyes, so you may wait 10 or 15 minutes after the lens has been inserted before the optician checks the fit. You may need to try on more than one pair before you get it just right. After your optician is satisfied that your lenses fit, feel comfortable and give you good vision, you’re ready to learn how to put them in.
Contact lens instruction
Learning to apply (and remove) your lenses is very easy. It just takes patience and practice. Most people get the hang of it straight away and once you’ve done it a few times it becomes second nature.
Your optician will teach you how to handle and care for your lenses. You’ll also get written instructions to refer to – and you should call your optician if you have any questions.
For more tips on how to insert and remove your lenses once you are at home, read our guide or view our video.
Getting your lenses
Usually your optician will have your contact lenses in stock and you’ll be able to take them home the same day. If your lenses need to be ordered, you’ll usually get them in a week or less.
Follow up appointments
After your contact lens fitting is complete, you’ll need to return for regular follow-up visits at least once a year, so that your optician can make sure your lenses continue to fit properly, that you’re seeing well and that your lenses are comfortable.
Try contact lenses today
Book an appointment and ask your optician for ACUVUE® contact lenses. You can also claim a free* trial pair when you visit. Print voucher.
* Please note that professional eye exam and fitting fees may apply.
