Contact lenses can give you clear vision without glasses, but finding the right pair involves more than simply matching your eyeglass prescription. Contact lenses sit directly on the surface of your eyes, and every person’s eyes are a little different. The shape of your cornea, your prescription, tear film, eye health, and even your daily routine can affect which contacts work best for you.
At Northpoint Eye Studio in Concord, NC, we take the time to find contact lenses that provide the right combination of clear vision, comfortable wear, and healthy eyes.
Contact lenses aren’t one-size-fits-all! Two people with similar prescriptions may need completely different lenses based on the shape of their eyes, how dry their eyes tend to be, or how they plan to use their contacts. A proper contact lens fitting allows your eye doctor to evaluate the lens sits appropriately on your eye, gives you clear and stable vision, and remains comfortable throughout your day.
According to the American Optometric Association, contact lenses are medical devices that require proper evaluation, fitting, and care, and the CDC also notes contact lenses are available in many different materials, designs, and replacement schedules. Finding the right combination can make a noticeable difference in how your contacts feel and perform.
A contact lens fitting typically takes place alongside or after your comprehensive eye exam. At Northpoint Eye Studio, your contact lens exam may include evaluating your eye health, taking measurements of your eyes, and determining which type of contact lens may be best suited for your prescription and lifestyle.
Depending on your needs, your fitting may include:
If you’re new to contact lenses, we can also teach you how to insert, remove, clean, and care for your lenses safely.
The process may involve trial lenses and follow-up visits so we can see how your eyes respond after you’ve actually worn the contacts in everyday life.
A professional fitting is about finding a lens that works well for your eyes rather than simply finding a lens you can see through.
The right contact lens prescription and design can provide sharper, more stable vision. This becomes especially important for patients with astigmatism, presbyopia, high prescriptions, or other visual needs that may require a more specialized lens design.
Contacts that don’t fit properly may feel irritating, dry, or uncomfortable. During your fitting, we look at how the lens interacts with your eye and tear film and can make adjustments when necessary. Sometimes changing the lens material, size, design, or replacement schedule can significantly improve comfort.
If dry eye is making contact lens wear uncomfortable, learn more about dry eye treatment options and ways to improve symptoms.
Because contact lenses sit directly on your eyes, proper fit and responsible wear are important parts of protecting your eye health! Poorly fitting lenses or improper contact lens habits can contribute to irritation and other complications. Regular examinations also allow your eye doctor to check for changes that may affect whether your current lenses are still the best choice.
The “best” contact lens depends on more than your prescription. Someone who wears contacts occasionally may have different needs from someone who wears them throughout the workday. A patient who spends hours looking at screens may have different concerns from someone who plays sports or spends a significant amount of time outdoors.
A personalized fitting allows us to consider how you actually use your vision.
Some patients assume contact lenses simply aren’t an option for them because they’ve struggled with contacts in the past. That isn’t always the case!
Northpoint Eye Studio offers a variety of contact lens options for patients with more complex prescriptions or eye conditions, including people with:
Depending on your eyes, we may explore options such as:
Specialty lenses can provide options for patients whose vision or comfort needs aren’t adequately addressed by traditional soft contacts. For example, scleral lenses are larger-diameter lenses that vault over the cornea and may be helpful for certain irregular corneas or ocular surface conditions. Multifocal contacts can help patients who need correction for both distance and near vision, while specialty designs for astigmatism can provide more stable correction than a standard spherical contact lens.
The right option depends on your individual eyes, prescription, and visual goals.
Even perfectly fitted contact lenses need to be worn and cared for correctly. The CDC and National Eye Institute recommend healthy contact lens habits to help reduce the risk of irritation and eye infections.
A few important habits include:
Your contact lens fitting is also an opportunity to ask questions and make sure you feel confident caring for your lenses at home.
Finding comfortable contacts can sometimes take a little more detective work than people expect. At Northpoint Eye Studio, we don’t approach contact lenses as a one-size-fits-all solution. We provide personalized contact lens fittings, specialty lens options, patient training, and follow-up care to help find the right solution for your eyes.
That includes working with patients who have never worn contacts before as well as people who have previously been told they were difficult to fit.
Whether you want contact lenses for everyday wear, special occasions, sports, freedom from glasses, or a more complex visual need, we’ll help you explore the options available to you.
Comfortable, clear contact lens wear starts with the right fit.
If you’re interested in trying contacts for the first time, need an updated prescription, or haven’t been happy with contacts you’ve worn in the past, schedule a contact lens exam and fitting at Northpoint Eye Studio in Concord, NC.
We’ll take the time to understand your eyes, your vision, and your lifestyle so we can help you find contact lenses that truly fit your needs.
