Get ready for your eye exam

ACUVUE navy logo in capital letters
Woman with natural hair inserting contact lens in bathroom mirror
Get Contacts
How to Prepare for Your Eye Doctor Appointment

Lay the groundwork before you go

When scheduling your appointment, be sure to talk about the following, so you and your eye doctor can make the most of the time.

Share your vision history

Describe any new issues you’re experiencing and let them know if you currently wear glasses or contact lenses.

Ask for a contact lens fitting

A fitting is a different kind of appointment so let the office know that you are interested in contact lenses so they can schedule a fitting.

Things to bring

  1. Your current contact lenses or glasses, if you have them.
  2. Your vision and medical insurance cards (if applicable).
  3. Questions. Your eye doctor is there to help, so don't hold back. Here are some good starting points:

Questions to ask

  • How is the health of my eyes?
  • Have you detected any eye disease or risk of eye disease that I should treat or monitor?
  • How is my vision?
  • Is it possible for me to see more clearly?
  • Will my vision stabilize?
  • What are my vision correction options?
  • What's going to provide the best vision and the most flexibility given my activities and needs?
  • What are the advantages of trying both contact lenses and glasses? What situations are best for each?
  • What do I need to do to wear contact lenses safely?
  • Are there any long-term issues with wearing contacts?

Four steps to a typical contact lens fitting

  1. Eye health exam
    First and foremost, your eye doctor will review your medical and ocular history, assess eye health, check how well your eyes focus, and more.
  2. Contact lens eligibility
    Next, your doctor may perform a few more tests to make sure contacts are right for you. If so, your doctor may ask about your lifestyle to help pick a lens type.
  3. Fitting with lenses and learning to use them
    With the test results and your input, the doctor will recommend lenses to meet your individual needs. Then you'll be taught how to put on, take off and properly care for your lenses.
  4. Follow-up and prescription
    Especially if you are new to contact lenses, after an initial trial period, the doctor may have you return to make sure you're adjusting well to your new lenses and make changes if necessary. If all is well, they will release a prescription so you can order a supply of contact lenses.
FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Why do I need a prescription for contact lenses?

You need a prescription because contact lenses are regulated medical devices. For contacts to be safe and work properly, they need to fit the unique shape of your eyes and correct your unique vision challenges. That's what a contact lens fitting exam is for—an eye doctor will take the necessary measurements to determine your prescription.

Find an Eye Doctor

Are contact lenses comfortable to wear?

Yes, for most people, contact lenses are comfortable to wear when they're properly fitted by an eye doctor. Many wearers go through their day and hardly notice them on their eye.

How long does an eye exam take?

How long an eye exam takes depends on each patient. It typically lasts between half an hour and an hour, but may be longer if special testing or procedures are necessary. For example, the initial appointment with a new eye doctor may take longer due to paperwork, discussions about potential eye issues, and getting to know more about the patient's history.

How long does eye dilation last?

Dilation of the eye's pupils can last from 4 to 24 hours. Several factors can impact dilation time, including eye color, age and the type of drug used to dilate the eyes.

Do all optometrists give you a trial pair of contacts?

Most eye doctors provide a free trial pair of contacts as part of a contact lens exam. This allows the doctor to make sure they help you see clearly, and also gives you a chance to make sure they're comfortable for you.

How much is an eye exam without insurance?

Generally speaking, eye exams will cost somewhere between $50 and $200 without including the cost of contact lenses or eyeglasses. Eye exam costs can vary based on several factors, such as the location you live in and whether your need for an eye exam also includes a contact lens exam.

Get started with ACUVUE® contact lenses

Try ACUVUE® for FREE*

Provide some basic information and get a certificate for a FREE* trial pair.

Find an eye doctor

Use our locator tool to find a doctor who can fit you with ACUVUE® contact lenses.

Stay in touch

With your consent, we will use your email to send you information about our products and services tailored to your interests. You may withdraw your consent at any time. Please read our Privacy Policy.

Required fields are marked with an asterisk *
*
*
*
Experience with lenses
*
Please Select

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Footnotes

Consult your eye care professional for more information. J&J does not provide medical advice; this information is for educational purposes only.

Always wash hands thoroughly before handling contact lenses.

*Free trial contact lenses available only from participating eye care professionals. Exam and fitting fees not included.

Important information for contact lens wearers: ACUVUE Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for vision correction. An eye care professional will determine whether contact lenses are right for you. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor. Do not wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, remove the lens and contact your eye doctor immediately. For more information on proper wear, care and safety, talk to your eye care professional, call 1-800-843-2020, or download the Patient Instruction Guides.

PP2023AMB5149

ACUVUE navy logo in capital letters
We support the AdvaMed Code of Ethics on interacting with Healthcare Professionals.
Advamed Logo
Get Contacts
Help & Customer Care
MyACUVUE®
About
Legal
© Johnson & Johnson and its affiliates 2025. All rights reserved. This site is published by Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., which is solely responsible for its content. It is intended for use by residents of the United States.

Third-party trademarks used herein are trademarks of their respective owners.