Most people with eyesight problems understand the importance of seeing an optometrist at least once a year. However, you need to understand the difference between a contact lens and an eyeglass exam. Having a good understanding of this difference can save you a lot of money and time. 

 

Regular comprehensive eye exams are more important than most people think. These exams can help detect and fix vision issues as early as possible, in addition to checking for signs of various eye diseases. 

 

Do you have a vision problem? Do you use eyeglasses? Are you considering using contact lenses? If so, you need to understand one critical fact: An eye exam for eyeglasses is quite different from one for contact lenses. 

 

Comprehensive Eye Exams

These types of exams are an essential part of caring for the overall health and well-being of your eyes and vision. After all, what do your eyes do? In addition to helping you see, they function as windows providing a view of your overall health. 

 

Essentially, a comprehensive eye exam can help your eye doctor detect signs of other health conditions. These include conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Furthermore, your eye doctor will look for signs of macular degeneration, glaucoma, and other serious eye conditions. 

 

Are You Planning to Wear Both Prescription Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses?

Do you want to have the ability to wear prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses whenever you want? If so, you need to determine whether the prescriptions are interchangeable. Can you submit your eyeglass prescription to get a contact lens prescription or vice versa? The simple answer is no. Of course, both have the same objective. However, they are distinctly different.  

 

Difference Between Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses

The biggest difference between these two types of corrective lenses is the placement. Eyeglasses sit about 12 millimeters away from the eye’s lens, while contact lenses sit directly on top of the lenses. This might seem like a minor difference, but corrective eyewear requires different prescriptions. 

 

Do You Need a Different Prescription for Contact Lenses?

If you are wearing prescription eyeglasses and planning to switch to contact lenses, you need to understand that you need a separate eye exam. Contact lenses are medical devices that require a specialized exam. Fortunately, you can undergo a contact lens exam at the same time you are getting a comprehensive eye exam. 

 

Contact Lens Exam

During this type of exam, your optometrist or eye doctor will assess the shape and size of your eyes. This will help them determine the type of lenses that fit your eyes. Your eye doctor will also evaluate any eye health issues that could affect the comfort of wearing contact lenses. 

 

Once your eye doctor completes these tests, they will likely ask you to try different contact lens types and brands. The purpose of this is to find the contact lenses that fit most comfortably, in addition to providing proper vision. Your eye doctor will then write the appropriate prescription. This process is fairly more complex than getting a prescription for eyeglasses.


 

To learn more about eye exams, visit Clarity Vision at our offices in Smithfield, North Carolina. You can (919) 737-7200 today to schedule an appointment.