What should I expect to happen at my contact lens checkup? (10 points for best answer)?

Question

I am getting contacts soon (less than a week) and i want to know what i should expect to happen. What exactly happens during a contact lens fitting? Do they check the size of your eye and curve and sutff? How...with what tools? also, what's going to happen after the exam is over...do i get to try contacts on right after or do i have to revisit so that they can get the rigth size and shape contacts? In other words, would they necessarily have the contacts for my size in their inventory or do they have to order them and i have to go again? also, my optometrist i believe gives a month of contacts, but i think they charge for it...instead could i print out a coupon for a free trial pair from acuvue? can i print out more than one? also, how long does it take before i get used to the contacts? Will i eventually be able to put contacts in really quickly? when? also, how does it feel when you first put contacts on and do you know any tricks for putting them in with ease? best answer gets 10points

Answer 1

The optometrist will use a phoropter to get your prescription.  That's the machine with a bunch of lenses in it that he/she puts in front of your face.  You'll look through it and read letters on a screen.  

Other parts to a normal eye exam include:

-checking your pupils by shining a light in your eyes (penlight or transilluminator)

-checking your eye muscles by having you follow an object around with your eyes (light or finger)

-checking the health of the front of your eye with a slit lamp (you put your head in a chinrest and the doctor shines a slit of light on your eyes)

-checking the health of the inside of your eye with an ophthalmoscope (a handheld instrument)

-taking your intraocular pressures by either blowing a puff of air into your eyes (you put your head in a chinrest and the machine does the rest) or by slightly touching them with a cone-shaped instrument called a tonometer tip

To measure the curvature of your eyes, the optometrist will use a keratometer.  You put your head in a headrest and stare into a tube.  The optometrist will line up some images to get your K readings.  These can be used to find your base curve.

Usually the doctor will have a trial pair in your prescription that you can start learning with.  They will order more (six months or a year supply usually) and you'll have to go back and pick them up (a week to two weeks later).  The doctor or optician will probably put them on for you, so he/she can see how they fit on your eye.  Someone will go over how to put them in, take them out, clean them, and store them.  If the doctor feels you are ready, he/she will let you take the trial pair home to practice with.  If not, you may have to go back for more practicing in the office.  Either way, you will have to go back for a checkup in about a week to make sure the lenses are not having any negative effects on your eyes.

Usually the trial pair from the doctor is free (althought the contact lens fitting exam may be a separate charge from just the eye exam).  I don't see any harm in taking a free trial pair coupon and seeing what you can get with it.  Most coupons are "not valid with any other offer," meaning, no, you can't use two at once.  You'd have to check the specific coupon, though.

Most people get used to contacts in about a week, but it varies.  Some people's eyes are just more sensitive than others.  Most people can find a brand/material that they can't even feel, so if your contacts still seem uncomfortable after a week or two, let your doctor know and he/she can probably give you something else to try that may be better.

Yes, you will eventually be able to put them in and take them out quickly, probably after a month or so.  Again, it varies by person.

I'm trying to remember what it felt like the first time I put them in, but it's been awhile.  Most people say that they can just feel it, but it's not uncomfortable.  If it hurts, something is probably wrong.

Putting them in just takes practice.  You must be able to hold your eye open wide and tight--no way around that.  If you are right handed, use any finger(s) of your left hand to hold your top lid.  For your right eye, it's easiest to put your hand on top of your head.  Use your right middle finger to pull down your bottom lid.  Have the contact on your right pointer finger.  Line up the contact in front of your eye using a mirror.  Then look towards your nose and gently but firmly plop the lens on your sclera (white part).  Look towards the contact SLOWLY and it should pop onto your cornea (front of your eye).  Then look around a little bit SLOWLY, and SLOWLY close your eye.  If you move your eye too quickly, it can pop the lens off.

Tips:

-Always wash and dry your hands first.

-Have all the fingers that you are using to hold your lids very dry.

-Have the finger that you are using to put the contact in with slightly wet (with solution).  That way it will stick to your finger long enough.

-Some people find it easier to look up and place the contact on the bottom of their eye; try that way too and see if it is easier for you.

-Consciously be thinking about holding your eyelids.  That will help keep you from letting them slip.

-If it makes you nervous or you blink, practice without the contact.  Hold your eye open and practice gently touching your sclera (always with clean hands and not too much so you don't irritate your eye).

-Have someone watch you and let you know what you are doing wrong if you still can't get them in.

To remove them, again wash and dry your hands.  Hold your eye open the same way as before.  Look towards your nose and gently slide the contact by its edge to the sclera towards your ear.  Then gently pinch it between your index finger and thumb.  It will take practice to get the pinching just right, but you'll get it.

Tips:

-If the contact doesn't seem to slide, wet your index finger a little with solution.

-Again, some people find it easier to slide the contact down and then pinch it off.

-Don't try to just pinch it off the front of your eye, as you could scratch your cornea.

Make sure to never sleep in your contacts (unless your doctor approves you to do it).  Don't overwear them (don't wear two-week lenses for two months).  I know a lot of people do this and get away with it (for now), but it can really damage your eyes.

Make sure to only use solution on your lenses and your lens case--never tap water.  You can get nasty infections from it, and it distorts the lenses and dries them out.

Once you have put your contacts in your eyes, rinse the case out with solution and let it air dry during the day.  Always use fresh solution at night (or whenever you put your lenses in the case), and buy a new case every three months.

Okay, I think that answered all your questions and gave you some extra information.  The doctor will go over all of this with you, too.  Good luck!