Eye health resources

What to expect at your first contact lens exam

Q: Is a contact lens exam painful?

You may feel fear or anxiety about having your eyes examined but there aren’t any invasive parts of a contact lens exam. At most, your eyes may be dilated and/or you may experience a puff of air blown at your eye.

Q: How long does a contact lens exam take?

This entirely depends on what office you go to and how much time you spend with the eye care professionals learning to use contact lenses, but these exams typically last between 30 and 60 minutes.

Q: Will my eyes be dilated at a contact lens exam?

Your eye doctor may want to dilate your pupils, especially if this is your first visit with them. This allows them to better determine the health of your retina and optic nerve inside the eye. This is especially important if you are nearsighted as nearsighted people have a higher risk of developing retinal problems.

Q: What does it feel like to have an astigmatism?

Astigmatism isn’t something you’d feel, but it may cause blurry or distorted vision at all distances, which can lead to headaches as your eyes strain to put images into focus.

Q: What disqualifies you from wearing contact lenses?

Your eye doctor may decline to prescribe contact lenses if you have severe dry eye, allergies, or other health issues that might make caring for contact lenses difficult.