Ready to ditch your glasses and try contacts? Your first contact lens fitting is more than just a quick swap—it’s a personalized experience designed to set you up for clear, comfortable vision.
Whether you're a busy professional in Stamford, a high school athlete in Trumbull, or a retiree in Mahopac looking for more freedom from your frames, contact lenses can be a game-changer. But before you make the switch, it’s important to understand what the contact lens fitting process involves—and why it’s so important to get it right.
At EyeCare Associates, we don’t just hand you lenses and hope for the best. Your fitting is a guided, one-on-one session with an experienced eye doctor who evaluates your vision, eye health, and lifestyle needs to ensure you’re matched with the right type of lens from the start.
What Happens During a Contact Lens Fitting?
Here’s what to expect at your fitting appointment:
- Comprehensive Eye Exam – We check your visual acuity and overall eye health to ensure contacts are a safe and effective option for you.
- Corneal Measurements – We use high-tech tools to measure the shape and size of your cornea so your lenses fit properly.
- Tear Film Evaluation – This helps determine whether your eyes produce enough moisture for comfortable lens wear, especially if you’ve had issues with dry eye in the past.
- Lens Selection – Based on your vision needs and lifestyle, your doctor will choose the best type of contact lenses—soft, rigid gas permeable, daily disposables, or even specialty lenses like scleral lenses or toric lenses for astigmatism.
You'll also get to try on a pair of diagnostic lenses to test the fit and vision right in the office.
Learning How to Use and Care for Your Lenses
Once your optometrist confirms that your trial lenses fit well and provide clear vision, we’ll guide you through everything you need to know about wearing and caring for your contacts. This includes:
- How to insert and remove lenses safely
- Cleaning and storing your lenses (if not using daily disposables)
- Understanding your wear schedule
- Signs to watch for, like irritation or blurry vision
- How long to wear them each day during your adjustment period
If you’re new to contacts, don’t worry—our staff takes the time to teach you step-by-step. We won’t rush you. Our goal is to make sure you leave confident and comfortable.
Understanding Specialty Lens Fittings for Irregular Corneas
If you've been told you have corneal irregularity or irregular corneas, you may not be a candidate for regular contacts—but that doesn’t mean you’re out of options. Scleral contact lenses are a popular and effective solution for those with advanced refractive error, corneal transplants, or conditions like dry eye disease.
These lenses are properly fitted to vault over the cornea and rest on the white part of the eye (the sclera), offering stability and moisture retention. The fitting process involves careful measurements of the corneal surface and base curve to ensure your contact lens prescription delivers improved vision and comfort.
Patients who need toric contact lenses for astigmatism or have other vision problems benefit greatly from working with eye care professionals who specialize in these advanced lenses.
When to Return for a Follow-Up Visit
After your initial fitting, you’ll be scheduled for a follow-up visit within a week or two. This allows your doctor to check how your eyes are adjusting to the lenses and make any needed changes to your prescription or lens type.
This visit is especially important if you're trying specialty contact lenses, like scleral lenses for dry eyes, multifocal lenses, or lenses for keratoconus or astigmatism. These types of lenses often need fine-tuning for the best results.
Ready to Try Contact Lenses at EyeCare Associates
Whether you’re switching for comfort, convenience, or a new look, the right fit makes all the difference. Our experienced team at EyeCare Associates has helped thousands of patients across Connecticut and New York make the transition successfully.