You will need a contact lens prescription from your optician before you start wearing contact lenses. They will ensure that you have the correct type of contact lens, that the fitting and the prescription is optimal for your eyes.
Prescription lenses
Do I need a prescription to wear contact lenses?
You will need a contact lens prescription from your optician before you start wearing contact lenses. They will ensure that you have the correct type of contact lens, that the fitting and the prescription is optimal for your eyes. It is often the case that the contact lens prescription is different to the prescription for glasses. Your optician is able to advise you on the appropriate wearing and replacement schedule as well as how to handle and care for your lenses so as to help avoid complications.
Who can prescribe me contact lenses?
When you book an appointment with your optician, ask them to arrange for you to have a contact lens fitting when you attend for your eye examination. They will assess your suitability to wear contact lenses and discuss with you the type of lens most suitable for your eyes and that will suit your lifestyle.
How do they check that contact lenses are right for me?
In addition to a normal sight test or eye examination, your optician will look at a variety of criteria to assess your ability to wear contact lenses and take this, as well as your lifestyle needs in to account, when recommending the type of lens most appropriate for you.
In addition to determining the prescription, the checks that are commonly performed include measuring the curvature of your eye, checking the surface of the eyes and the tear quality, as well as evaluating the overall eye health. The next step will be to recommend a lens and place it on the eye to determine whether the fitting, comfort and vision are all optimal.
A trial usually takes place for anything from a few days to a week in order to allow you time to experience the lenses in different situations and then return to the optician to discuss this and evaluate the lenses on your eyes again. Usually you will be issued with a contact lens prescription once the optician is satisfied that the lenses are satisfactory and this will detail the make, dimensions and prescription of the contact lenses you are wearing.
What prescriptions do ACUVUE® Contact Lenses cover?
Whatever your vision needs ACUVUE® is likely to have a contact lens that’s right for you. Our continuous new product development and innovative technologies mean many people with visual impairments including myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia can be fitted with an ACUVUE® Contact Lens.
How often should I have the prescription of my ACUVUE® Contact Lenses checked by my optician?
Your optician will recommend that you have a routine contact lens check-up appointment to ensure that the lenses are fitting you and providing optimal vision, comfort and health. This interval may vary depending on your specific needs but commonly is suggested to be repeated every six to twelve months. If you need a contact lens check we can help you to find an optician near you.