Contact Lens Exam in
Nashville, TN

During a contact lens exam, your eye doctor will evaluate the size and shape of your eyes and look for eye health concerns that may affect your vision or comfort in contact lenses. When more detailed measurements are needed, corneal mapping can create a precise map of the front surface of your eye to support a more accurate fit.

Dr. Lemoncelli will measure your cornea to determine the curvature and size of your contact lens and will also measure the size of your pupils. You may need to wear a toric lens if you have astigmatism. Astigmatism is a condition where the cornea or lens of the eye is not perfectly round, causing blurred or distorted vision. Toric contact lenses for astigmatism correct

Your eye doctor may also evaluate your tear film for signs of dry eye, which can affect how contact lenses feel throughout the day. If dryness is contributing to your discomfort, dry eye diagnosis and treatment may be recommended before or alongside a contact lens update.

Once testing is complete, your eye doctor will recommend contact lenses based on your eye health, prescription, comfort, and lifestyle needs. You may receive trial lenses to wear before a follow-up visit, allowing you to assess how they perform during your normal workday, screen time, commute, exercise, and other daily activities. At your follow-up, your eye doctor will confirm that the lenses fit comfortably and provide clear vision.

You will also receive a contact lens prescription that designates the contact lens type, power, base curve (a shape matching the curvature of your eye), and diameter.

Why do I need an exam for contact lenses?

If you plan to wear contact lenses, you need a contact lens exam because contact lenses are classified as medical devices, which means you need a prescription to wear them. If you wear contact lenses or plan to wear contact lenses, let us know when you schedule an appointment for your comprehensive eye exam, so we can perform the contact lens exam during your appointment.

What are the benefits of wearing contact lenses?

There are several benefits to wearing contact lenses.

• Many people prefer to wear contact lenses for aesthetic reasons – they do not want to alter their facial appearance.
• Contact lenses are also an excellent choice for people who are physically active or athletes because they do not fog up and there is no concern about breaking eyeglasses.
• With contact lenses, you can enjoy a full field of vision without the restriction of glasses frames.

It’s important to note that while contact lenses have many benefits, they do require proper care and handling to prevent eye infections and other complications. It’s essential to follow your optometrist’s instructions for cleaning and wearing the lenses to maintain healthy eyes.

Types of contact lenses

There are many different types of contact lenses to accommodate most people’s visual needs and eye health, including specialty lenses.

• Soft, spherical contact lenses are the most common type of contact lens and the most prescribed. Traditional soft contact lenses are made of soft plastic polymers and water, allowing oxygen to pass through to the cornea. There are different wear schedules for soft contact lenses based on your prescription. It’s important to adhere to the wear schedule the doctor prescribes for you so that your eyes remain healthy, and you can continue to wear soft contact lenses comfortably. Your doctor may recommend daily use contact lenses, which means you only wear a pair of lenses for one day and then discard them, or weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly lenses.
• Toric contact lenses are made to correct for astigmatism and are available in both soft and gas-permeable designs. These contact lenses have one power that is horizontal and one power that is vertical, and there’s a weight at the bottom so that they remain centered on the eyes.
• Bifocal contact lenses allow people to see clearly up close and at a distance. These lenses are like bifocal glasses in that they have two separate powers, and they’re available in soft and gas-permeable forms.
• Monovision contact lenses are one of the options for people who have presbyopia, which is the gradual decline in near vision due to aging. The dominant eye is fit with a contact lens for far vision if needed, and the other eye is fit for near vision.

Finding the right contact lenses starts with understanding your eyes and how you use your vision every day. Whether you currently wear contacts or are considering them for the first time, a contact lens exam in Nashville can help identify a comfortable option that fits your prescription, eye health, and lifestyle.