Like with most things that require care, our eyes are no different and require routine checks to make sure they are operating in optimum condition. Upon using contacts, it is strongly recommended that you visit your optometrist and have them examine your eyes. This enables your eye doctor to prescribe the correct power, and to offer lens recommendations to best suit your eyes. Once you have your contacts and have been wearing them comfortably for a while, the need to have routine eye tests may completely slip your mind. Yet it is important to know that our eyes can change, and being up to date with these changes enables us to take the steps necessary to keep our eyes healthy.

When to book an eye exam

There are many factors that may trigger you to make your eye appointment such as:

- Your contacts are not fitting correctly

- The power isn’t right for your eyes

- You have pain when wearing your contacts

- You notice your eyesight has changed

- Your optometrist has scheduled a routine check

When visiting your optometrist on a routine eye check, they can gauge from your appointment the duration between your next one. Varying factors such as age, your overall health, taking certain medications, and your visual requirements determine how often an eye check is needed. This check can vary from every 6 months, to once a year, and sometimes once every two years. If you find your eyes are having problems in-between appointments, do not wait for your scheduled appointment, and book a new one immediately.

Routine eye check vs contact lens check

When having a routine eye check, your eye doctor will check on the overall condition of your eye health which includes:

- Any changes to how you see at short and long distances

- How well your eyes work together

- How well your pupils respond to light

- Screening for eye disease such as glaucoma and macular degeneration

- Taking your eye pressure

- Inspecting for corneal damage

- Checking for dry eye disease

Through this routine check, your optometrist can inform you of any changes that may affect your current contact lens prescription. This is important, as wearing the incorrect lens can affect how well you are able see, which may impact on your day-to-day life. Sometimes we do not even notice our eyes deteriorating, and it is only when we are made aware of any small changes, is when we realise how much clearer our new lenses are making things.

When we say contact lens check, this varies from our standard eye check. A contact lens check is a more specialised check dedicated entirely to making sure your lenses are fitting and working well, and to check the health of your cornea. Your specialised contact lens check may include:

- Evaluating how well your contact lens fits

- The measurements of your cornea- including curvature and size

- The measurements of your pupil and iris

- Evaluation of your tear film to assess the quality of your tears

- Possible inspection of trial lenses to see how well they fit and feel on your eye

A contact lens exam is essential for first time contact wearers, or for wearers who are needing to update their lenses after finding changes to their eyes. Your contact lens check may be part of your standard eye check if you are a contact lens wearer, of if your eyes are needing a new prescription of lenses. Ultimately, your eye doctor will inform you of when you are ready for your routine eye check and if a contact lens check is necessary for you.