Regular eye exams

How often should you get your eyes checked? As often as recommended by your eye care professional. They will ensure that you are seeing as clearly and comfortably as possible. Having good eye health is not just about being able to see 20/20. During an eye examination, your eye care professional can also spot a variety of health conditions.

Getting your eyes checked regularly ensures that you have healthy eyes, which are critical to your overall quality of life.

A frequent eye exam also reminds you that contact lenses are medical devices that need to be worn, replaced and cleaned as prescribed by your doctor. Following a contact lens regimen is important because it can play a huge role in your overall success in wearing contacts.

Right lens for you

An eye exam provides a good opportunity to be honest with your doctor about how your lenses feel as you shouldn’t have to compromise on comfort when wearing them. A lot of my patients say they’re satisfied with their current daily disposable contact lenses, but I know many rely on eye drops, reduce their wear time or settle for end-of-day discomfort as a ‘normal’ cost of wearing contact lenses. They don’t believe their lenses are at fault and often blame their own lifestyle.

If your lenses aren’t comfortable, let your doctor know so they can offer an alternative solution to better suit your needs. Sometimes, it can be as simple as trying an advanced lens material.

Contact lens innovation

Using the analogy of Apple products and having a new iPhone, most of us like to upgrade every few years because the device has something better to offer. It is the same with contact lenses.

Improved features such as higher oxygen transmissibility, high definition optics, softer materials and UV protection can offer something you may not currently have.

Patients often don’t know there is something better available, but most are eager to try the “latest and greatest” and are happy to know that their doctor is staying up to date on new innovations and looking out for their eye health. By fitting patients with new lenses or upgrading their existing lens, we can improve their overall contact lens wearing experience.

Eye Exam best practice

The best way for an eye care professional to improve your lens-wearing experience is to listen, ask questions and understand your visual demands. For example, do you use a computer at work, a tablet at home or check emails on your phone, or all of these? By digging deeper and finding out what your daily struggles are with your current eyewear, your eye care professional can better appreciate your lifestyle and how you use your eyes, and then can offer the best technology to suit your needs. Most patients want a life without compromise, doing what they love to do.

When an eye care professional can offer a more advanced contact lens that gives you independence, confidence and the ability to embrace life, they’ve done a