the good doctor on: Do I really need a contact lens exam?

Blog Volume II, Issue #1: Do I really need a contact lens exam?

At least once a day my front desk staff are asked this question. Contact lenses, unfortunately, are frequently sold without the care and supervision that would ideally be part of the “contact lens package”. What we forget is that a contact lens is a medical device and needs to be treated as such. It is not neutral; it does affect the eye, and eyes are rather important.

You only have two of them, that’s all you get. Consider contact lens care to be insurance for your eyes. You put these things on your eye, everyday, all day; this is bound to have consequences.

At Burlington Eyecare we provide a contact lens service, we don’t just sell contact lenses. A contact lens check-up involves:

Part One: (lenses on) We look into lifestyle changes, aging changes in the eyes, and new advancements in contact lens technology. Then we measure the power of your eyes with the contacts on to see if there are any issues with the prescription. Finally, we examine the fit of the lenses, look for deposits or other abnormalities, and check the integrity of the lenses.

Part Two: (lenses off) We measure corneal curvatures and corneal topography if necessary. Then we look at the lids and the tear film and check for eye dryness (which has become a huge problem with our extended screen viewing during Covid). Finally, we look at the cornea to check for any oxygen deprivation from lens over-wear and check for any bacterial activity which contact lens wear can induce.

Part Three: W e review the care and handling of the lenses and take pupil measurements if a multifocal lens is being considered. Yes, bifocal contacts are a possibility!!

So yes, most definitely you need a contact lens exam at least once a year to protect your eyes and maximize your vision.

See you soon,

the good doctor, Dr. Mark Germain, Burlington Optometrist