If you wear contacts, your annual appointment has a few more boxes to check. A comprehensive eye exam checks your vision and eye health, while an eye check up for contact lens wear includes extra measurements to help your contacts fit comfortably and correct your vision clearly.
That extra work explains why a contact lens exam may cost more than a standard eye exam. At Big City Optical, our eye doctors take a closer look at how your lenses fit your eyes, giving you a prescription made for the way you actually wear your contacts.
Eye Exams and Contact Lens Exams Have Different Jobs
A comprehensive eye exam gives our eye doctor a broad picture of your vision and eye health. Your appointment can include checking your visual acuity, determining your glasses prescription, and examining your eyes for changes that may need attention.
A contact lens exam adds another layer for people who plan to wear contacts. Since a contact lens rests directly on the eye, our eye doctor needs information about the shape and surface of your eyes along with your vision prescription. Your glasses prescription alone lacks the measurements needed to properly fit contact lenses.
What Happens During a Contact Lens Exam?
Think about the difference between buying a jacket and having one tailored. Both may technically be your size, yet the finer measurements decide how well the final fit feels. Contact lenses work the same way. During a contact lens exam, our eye doctor gathers extra information to choose a lens that fits your eyes and your daily routine.
Your Contact Lens Prescription
A contact lens prescription contains information beyond the corrective power found in a glasses prescription. Our eye doctor determines the lens specifications you need for clear vision, while accounting for how the contact sits on your eye.
That distinction matters when you’re wondering where to get a contact lens prescription. A glasses prescription and a contact lens prescription serve different purposes, so switching from glasses to contacts calls for a contact lens evaluation and fitting.
Your Eye Shape and Measurements
Contact lenses come in different sizes, materials, and designs. Eye measurements help our team select lenses that sit in the right position and move appropriately when you blink.
Big City Optical uses advanced technology to closely analyze patients’ eyes during contact lens care. These measurements give our eye doctor more information when choosing your lens type and fit.
Your Contact Lens Fitting
The contact lens fitting gives our eye doctor a chance to see how a lens behaves once it reaches your eye. Fit matters because contacts rest on the eye’s surface for hours.
Our team can assess the lens position, movement, comfort, and vision before settling on the right option. Big City Optical offers a broad range of contact lenses for different prescriptions, eye shapes, and vision needs.
Your Comfort and Daily Routine
The right contact lens has to work beyond the exam room. Screen-heavy workdays, exercise, long commutes, heated indoor air, and Chicago’s shifting seasons can all shape what you want from your contacts.
Our team talks with you about how you plan to wear your lenses, including how often you use them and what matters most to you. That conversation connects the clinical side of your contact lens check with real life.
Your Eye Health With Contacts
A contact lens check also gives our eye doctor a closer look at the front surface of your eyes. That matters because contact lenses interact directly with the cornea and tear film throughout the day.
Comfort can change over time, too. If your lenses start feeling dry or irritating, our team can assess your eyes and discuss whether a different lens or dry eye treatment may better suit your needs.
Clear, Comfortable Contacts Across Chicagoland
A contact lens exam gives our eye doctor the information needed to pair clear vision with a fit designed around your eyes. Big City Optical brings advanced technology, personal care, and convenient neighborhood access together at locations across Chicagoland, from Chicago neighborhoods to nearby suburban communities.
Ready for contacts that fit your eyes and your routine? Book your contact lens exam with Big City Optical today.