Service Performed by an Independent Optometrist
Different than our comprehensive eye exam, our contact lens evaluation and fitting test makes sure that you’re a good fit for contact lenses. It’s important to note that despite technological advancements, not everyone will be a great fit for contact lenses. Some people will be better off with eyeglasses or other solutions. Here at L’Optique, we have several medical professionals on staff that will be able to find you the best way to improve your eyesight that fits your needs.
That being said, the beginning of this test will be like other tests that you have had. That means that the test will examine your eyesight. We’ll be able to determine your overall eye health. Additionally, we’ll be able to determine if there are any potential problems inside or around your eyes. That way, we can treat potential problems before they become catastrophes. These tests are invaluable for preventative care, discovering concerns and fixing them before they get worse.
Everyone is different. No two people have the same eyes. In fact, many people have different kinds of eyes. So, contact lenses have to be right for each person. What are the proper contact lenses for someone else won’t be right for you, and vice versa. So, we perform extensive measurements to make sure that your contact lenses are exactly right for your eyes.
We may not think of our eyes as having a “shape,” but they absolutely do. When measurements are done improperly (or not done at all) then that could lead to contact lenses that are painful or uncomfortable. To make sure that your contact lenses are right for your eyes, we go through an extensive measurement system. That way, we make sure that your contact lenses are truly YOUR contact lenses.
Measuring your pupils is an important part of this process. By using a top of the line pupil gauge, we’re able to determine the exact size of your pupils. From there, we’ll be able to determine the vertical and horizontal diameter of your pupil. As you might imagine, this requires some truly advanced technology. At L’Optique, we always make sure to keep up with the latest, most cutting-edge tech. That way, we’re able to offer our customers the best of all worlds.
Further measurements include the diameters of your iris, as well. In this context, “iris” means the part of your eye that’s in color. Our measurements are not limited to the parts of your eyes that are easily discernible and able to see with the naked eye (so to speak). We also have machines which measure the curvature of the front of your eye as well.
Determining curvature is quite important when it comes to your contact lenses. If that measurement is off, your lenses might too steep or too flat, which can cause great discomfort. So, we employ the most advanced machines, operated by trained, experienced medical professionals. These highly sensitive machines actually measure how your eye’s surface curves through analysis of how light reflects from your cornea. This may sound like something from science fiction, but it’s actually an incredibly accurate way to get a measurement for how your eyes curve.
Of course, that’s not all that goes into measuring your cornea. Indeed, that’s just the front of your cornea, the curve. So, to make sure that you’re getting contact lenses that absolutely fit your eyes, we also measure the surface characteristics of the whole cornea. By using machines that (among other things) beam light into your eyes, we’re able to make an intricate and incredibly detailed analysis of your cornea. From there, we design the contact lenses.
You may have noticed that more people than ever are wearing contact lenses. That’s not just in your imagination: it’s true. Contact lens technology has improved quite a bit, even in just the last few years. So, people that weren’t able to wear contact lenses in the past are absolutely able to wear them now. For example, people with astigmatism may not have been able to wear them in the past due to several reasons. Today’s contact lenses are advanced enough that even people with astigmatism can wear these lenses. Technological advancements have made it possible.
By that same token, people with dry eyes are able to wear contact lenses now, too. Before, someone whose eyes were dry may not have been able to wear these contact lenses without fear of discomfort or even further damage. Today, through medical advancements and a more complete kind of testing, we’re able to provide contact lenses to more people than ever before. So, if you were unable to get contact lenses in the past for various reasons, it might be worth reaching out to us to see if you could wear them now.
Contact lenses, as you’ve seen, are far from any “one size fits all” paradigm. Contact lenses are as unique and different as people themselves. When you come to our location, the exam for our contact lenses isn’t limited to just what the machines say. Indeed, we’ll have plenty of questions for you, too. Contact lenses are unique in that they’ll be with you when you’re doing pretty much anything in life. So, you need contact lenses that can fit into your life, too.
That means that you have to get contact lenses that will be able to handle your lifestyle. We’ll talk to you at length about what you do for work as well as your hobbies, what you do for fun, etc. Someone who plays sports, for example, is going to have very different needs for contact lenses than someone who works in a cubicle all day. Obviously, those are extreme examples, and many of us fall between those two ends of the spectrum, but that’s where the customization of our contact lenses (as well as our experience) comes in so handy. We can sit down with you and go over all of the different kinds of contact lenses that you can get for your distinct lifestyle.
Your age and health are important when it comes to your contacts, too. As we age, our eye care needs change. Many have a different prescription at 21 than they do at 41, and then an entirely different prescription at 61. The medications you might be taking are taken into account as well. In addition to what could be considered “normal” contact lenses, we also have Ortho K, scleral, and multifocal contact lenses as well. Those are just a few of the so-called “specialty” contact lenses that we might offer.
We understand that when most people come in for an eye exam, may not be prepared for so many questions about their lives. That’s just one of the reasons that we do so much to make L’Optique a warm, inviting place. We know that not many people look forward to an eye exam, so we want to make it as pleasant an experience as possible. The right kind of contact lenses can enable you to live life on your terms. To schedule an initial consultation for your contact lens evaluation & fitting visit, just give L’Optique a call at (310) 773-5565.
Service Performed by an Independent Optometrist
