Contact Lens Exams in Irvine,  CA | Iris Bright Optometry

There are a ton of choices available today for those who want to wear contact lenses. Our doctor can help you pick what is right for you: dailies, monthly lenses, toric, multi-focal, color, RGP’s, scleral lenses and Ortho-K.

During your visit, ask our doctor if contact lenses make sense for your lifestyle. With new materials and lens technologies coming out every year, contacts are more comfortable, safer and easier to wear than ever before.

Even if contact lenses didn’t work for you before, check with our doctor if there’s a new brand or type that can suit your specific needs.

Through our partnership with LensCrafters, we carry one of the largest inventories of contact lens trials for you to pick and try on the same day in most cases. If your contact lens power or type is not available, we can special-order them for you to be ready within a few days or our optometrist can substitute you with something similar.

What is the difference between an Eye Exam and a Contact Lens Exam?

A routine eye exam is not the same as a contact lens exam. For contact lens wearers, a contact lens exam is necessary to ensure the lenses are fitting both eyes properly and that the health of the eyes is not harmed by the contact lenses.

WHO CAN WEAR CONTACT LENSES?

Nearly anyone who needs vision correction can wear contact lenses. Contact lenses can provide vision correction for people with nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or a combination of these issues. Finding the perfect lens for you is sometimes a process of trial and error. All of the lens parameters can be finalized only after you’ve worn the successful combination. Schedule an eye exam to talk with our optometrist about whether contact lenses would be a good vision correction option for you.

ARE CONTACT LENSES BETTER THAN GLASSES?

Choosing contact lenses over glasses depends on personal preferences in regard to lifestyle, comfort, convenience, aesthetics and budget. One is not better than the other.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN ADVANTAGES OF WEARING CONTACT LENSES?

The main advantages of contact lenses are:

You can show the beauty of your natural eye color better or experiment with different eye color with color contact lenses
Contact lenses don’t clash with what you are wearing, or you don’t like the looks of eyeglasses
Better overall and peripheral vision due to no obstruction from eyeglass frames
More freedom of movement because contact lenses don’t get in the way when playing sports and exercising
Contact lenses don’t get affected by atmospheric conditions and won’t fog up due to humidity or cold weather like glasses. No splattering during rain either
Specialty contact lenses like orthokeratology (Ortho-K) and corneal reshaping therapy (CRT) can reshape your cornea while you sleep to temporarily correct myopia and allow you to see clearly the next day without glasses or contacts

To read more about the advantages and disadvantages of contact lenses by type, please visit the following American Optometric Association (AOA) page.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF GLASSES OVER CONTACT LENSES?

Eyeglasses:

Can be an extension of your personality and make a great fashion statement
Requires very little cleaning and maintenance
Doesn’t touch your eyes to wear, therefore decreasing risk of eye infections
Potentially cheaper in the long run since they don’t have to be replaced as often
Can adjust amount of light entering your eye for optimal comfort, when using transition or blue light protection technologies
Offers some protection from environmental factors like wind, dust and debris
Doesn’t exacerbate dry eyes or sensitive eyes sensation

What to expect from your Contact Lens Exam?

When it comes to contact lenses, one size does not fit all. The contact lens exam is typically done at the same time as your regular eye exam.

As a new or existing contact lens wearer, you will need a contact lens exam in addition to a comprehensive eye exam. To ensure your long-term success and happiness in contacts, our eye doctor and staff will take additional tests to confirm proper fit and comfort.

At Iris Bright Optometry, the health of your eyes is always our primary focus. As such, our doctor will pay particular attention to:

Lifestyle
Corneal health
- Any abnormal redness on the white of the eye
- Clarity of cornea: making sure there’s no scars. If scars are present, current contact lenses may not be suitable
- Neovascularization: growth of new blood vessels due to lack of oxygen to the cornea
- Pannus hazing of the cornea due to long term lack of oxygen
- Tear meniscus
Corneal curvature
Pupil and iris size
Lens Material
Visual acuity
Tear film stability and meibomian glands function (to avoid the feeling of dryness or foreign body in the eye)
Fit and comfort (too tight, too loose, off center…)

Please remember that the FDA classifies contact lenses as class I medical devices that have the potential for serious complications if not used and fitted properly. The California State Board of Optometry also requires a yearly evaluation and written prescription in order for you to “refill” your contact lenses.

I’ve used contact lens before but I can’t seem to wear them anymore. Can I still do contact lenses?

Unlike other optometrist practices, we carry the right technology to check the health of your meibomian glands through meibography (imaging of your eyelid glands). Most contact lens wearers who can no longer wear contact lenses suffer from some form of dry eye, most likely due to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

Depending on the cause and severity of your dry eye, our doctor can offer a dry eye treatment plan so you can wear contact lenses comfortably again. Please visit our Dry Eye Treatment page for more information.

Contact Lenses, Eyeglasses… or Both?

Most people love contact lenses as their primary form of vision correction. The decision to wear either contacts or glasses – and when to wear them – comes down personal preference.

No matter which you choose, it is still important for you to keep an up-to-date pair of glasses, in case you need to stop wearing contacts due to an eye infection, irritation, or simply to give your eyes a break.