Starting with contact lenses or glasses - getting a prescription

Your first eye examination is an important step in maintaining your visual health and obtaining the right prescription for glasses or contact lenses.

This comprehensive assessment typically begins with a detailed questionnaire about your medical history, including family history and information about any chronic conditions that may affect your eyes. You will also provide your eye health history and any previous records if you have visited an eye specialist before. The examination itself includes various tests, such as a visual acuity test, to determine your prescription needs.

Additional tests, such as examination with a slit lamp and indirect ophthalmoscopy, enable the doctor to assess the health of the internal structures of your eyes. Finally, the evaluation of pressure using applanation tonometry or non-contact tonometry measures intraocular pressure. Regular eye exams are essential for maintaining optimal eye health and ensuring clear and comfortable vision.

It’s important to note that your prescription for glasses is different from a contact lens prescription.

Different measurements are required to ensure the proper fit of contact lenses because they sit directly on the eyeball. So, if you’re interested in switching from glasses to contacts, an eye exam or discussion with your eye doctor is a mandatory first step even if you already have a glasses prescription.

Contact lenses offer many benefits for active lifestyles, and they’re now more comfortable and cost-effective than ever. People who play sports love the freedom and flexibility that contact lenses afford. Or, perhaps you simply prefer your own appearance without bulky glasses frames.

Or, maybe you want to get both a pair of glasses as well as some contacts to switch things up when circumstances call for it.

Getting comfortable with your new eyeglasses is pretty straightforward. Any pair of glasses made in accordance with your prescription should be properly centered during the production process. You’ll of course have to get used to wearing them for a while. In case your glasses continue to feel uncomfortable, your optician is often able to adjust them a little, by altering the shape of the temple tips, for example.

It may take a little more time to get used to the contact lenses, but regardless, the whole process should go fairly smoothly. After the initial fitting, and if you’re comfortable with the chosen lenses, your optician will evaluate the fit and perform a vision test. You’ll likely get some practice inserting and removing the lenses while under the watchful eye of your optician.

Finally, your eye specialist will explain the procedure for lens care basics, offer trial lenses and set a follow-up appointment to assess how you’re getting on with the chosen lenses at a later date. During the week or two before your follow-up appointment, you’ll have a chance to try out your lenses at home. If you have any trouble or questions arise, call your optician for advice.

Only your optician is authorized to provide trial lenses, as proper medical care and evaluation is needed when selecting appropriate lenses. It may take a few visits and a few tries to settle on the most appropriate brand and fit for you, but once you and your optician have agreed on a certain brand and wearing schedule, you are free to order the same lenses online from retailers like Alensa, without providing a copy of your prescription. Don’t forget to visit your optician for a checkup and prescription update at least once per year!

If you are interested in wearing coloured contact lenses without power for cosmetic purposes (eg. Halloween), it is always advisable to first consult with your optician for a fitting and recommendation, especially if you find you have never worn lenses before, have sensitive eyes or suffer from dry eyes.

A thorough eye exam is also necessary when you decide to wear coloured lenses with power for vision correction.