If you wear contact lenses or want to try frame-free corrective lenses, you need more than a routine comprehensive eye exam. Contact lens exams include additional steps designed to give you properly fitted, comfortable lenses that support your vision.
You can wear your previous contact lenses to the exam if you choose. Your optometrist can assess whether your existing lenses properly correct your vision. Then, they can adjust to your prescription to help keep your vision clear and comfortable.
However, there are parts of the exam where you’ll need to remove your lenses. Your optometrist will examine your eyes without the corrective power of contacts to assess your eye health and check for signs of underlying problems.
Why Have an Eye Exam?
Eye exams can offer valuable insights into your overall health. The inside of the eye can give early warning signs of more than 270 systemic and chronic diseases. Your optometrist can look for signs of high blood pressure, diabetes, autoimmune conditions, or cancer.
The human eye is sensitive to change, and it can often show signs of these complex conditions before they permanently damage your vision. Your optometrist can monitor changes in your vision and adjust your prescription as needed.
When Should You Wear Contacts to Your Eye Exam?
If you need your contact lenses for day-to-day clarity, feel free to wear them to your contact lens exam. However, there will be a point where your optometrist asks you to remove the lenses, allowing your eye care team to examine your eyes in their natural state.
Wearing your current contacts can help your optometrist assess how well your lenses are functioning and whether they are still the right fit for your vision needs. They can then evaluate comfort, movement, and lens performance while they’re on your eyes.
The Difference Between Comprehensive Eye Exams & Contact Lens Exams
While both kinds of exams are intended to monitor changes in your eye health, they include different steps. The main difference is the additional steps taken during a contact lens fitting and exam. These extra steps help your contact lenses:
- Fit properly
- Correct your vision
- Stay comfortable
- Protect your eyes
Then, when the exam is complete, you’ll receive an updated prescription and a set of trial lenses.
Comprehensive Eye Exams
A comprehensive eye exam is a thorough evaluation of your eyes and vision. It’s designed to check for common eye diseases, assess how your eyes work together, and evaluate your overall eye health. These exams are a critical part of your health plan.
During this exam, your optometrist will perform a series of tests. These include:
- Visual acuity tests to measure the sharpness of your vision
- Refraction tests to determine your prescription for glasses or contact lenses
- Eye muscle tests to assess the movement & alignment of your eyes
- Pupil response tests to check how your pupils react to light
- Eye pressure tests to screen for conditions like glaucoma
These tests help diagnose potential issues early—before they can damage your vision—and track changes over time. Then, your optometrist can prescribe corrective lenses if needed.
You should schedule a comprehensive eye exam every 1–2 years or more often if you notice any changes in your vision or eye health.
Contact Lens Exams
Alternatively, a contact lens exam is specifically designed for those who wear—or are considering wearing—contact lenses. It includes everything in a comprehensive eye exam alongside other, more comprehensive steps.
Some of these steps include:
- Measuring the surface of your eyes to create a proper contact lens fit
- Testing how your eyes respond to contact lenses
- Providing trial lenses to assess comfort & vision clarity
- Discussing the different types of contact lenses available & their care requirements
Your optometrist will measure the surface of your eye to determine the type and size of contact lenses. They’ll also check how the lenses fit and move on your eyes, how they affect your vision when worn, and whether they’re causing any irritation or dryness.
These details are critical for safe, effective lens wear.
Protect Your Eye Health & Vision Comfort
Whether you’re due for a comprehensive eye exam or considering contact lenses for the first time, our team at The Eye Avenue is here to help you see clearly and comfortably. Knowing what exam you need is the first step toward healthier eyes and vision. Don’t wait to get the personalized care your eyes deserve—book your appointment today and let us support your lifelong eye wellness.
