A contact lens exam at InSight EyeCare combines a comprehensive evaluation of your vision and eye health with the fitting needed to prescribe contact lenses. Whether you are trying contacts for the first time or updating lenses you already wear, Dr. Sturm evaluates how they fit, how clearly you see, and how your eyes respond to wearing them.
A comprehensive eye exam plus a contact lens fitting
You do not have to choose between an exam for glasses and an exam for contacts. Our contact lens appointments include a comprehensive eye exam, which evaluates your eye health and determines your glasses prescription. The contact lens fitting is an additional component that addresses the requirements of a lens resting directly on your eye.
Your glasses prescription alone cannot be used to order contacts. A contact lens prescription specifies the lens and fitting parameters as well as the corrective power. We finalize that prescription once the fitting is complete. Learn more on our eye exam page.
How we evaluate your contact lenses
Dr. Sturm considers your prescription, the health of your cornea and surrounding eye surface, and the tear film that helps keep your eyes moist. These findings help determine whether standard soft lenses are appropriate and whether dryness or another condition needs attention.
With contact lenses on your eyes, we assess their position and movement and check the clarity of your vision. For lenses that correct astigmatism, we also evaluate their rotational stability, since changes in orientation can affect how well you see.
Your experience matters, too. Tell us if your current lenses become uncomfortable later in the day, your vision fluctuates, or reading has become more difficult. Those details help guide decisions about changing the prescription, trying a different lens design, or addressing an eye surface problem.
Soft contact lens options for your vision
Standard soft contacts can address several common vision needs:
- Nearsightedness and farsightedness: Lenses provide the correction needed to bring objects into clearer focus.
- Astigmatism: Toric soft lenses correct differences in the eye’s focusing power that can cause blurred or distorted vision.
- Distance and near vision: Multifocal lenses provide different focusing powers within each lens to help with presbyopia, the age-related loss of near focusing ability.
- Monovision: One eye is corrected primarily for distance and the other primarily for near vision.
Multifocal lenses and monovision can reduce dependence on reading glasses, but each involves visual compromises. Adaptation varies, and glasses may still be helpful for certain tasks. Dr. Sturm considers your daily activities and your response to the lenses when recommending an approach.
What to expect when starting or updating contacts
If you are new to contacts, we provide thorough training in inserting and removing your lenses, handling them safely, and following the appropriate wearing and replacement schedule. We also explain cleaning and storage when applicable.
If you already wear contacts, we review how your current lenses are working and whether your prescription, comfort, or vision needs have changed. Bring your glasses and current contact lens packaging or prescription information to help us identify what you wear.
When trying a new lens or prescription, your experience during normal daily activities helps us assess the result. Some fittings are straightforward; others require adjustments or another lens trial. We provide follow-up care to evaluate concerns and refine the fit or prescription when needed.
Safe habits remain important after the fitting. Wash and dry your hands before handling lenses, keep contacts away from water, and avoid sleeping in them unless specifically directed by Dr. Sturm. Eye pain, unusual redness, light sensitivity, or sudden blurred vision require prompt attention. Remove your lenses and contact an eye care professional immediately if these symptoms occur.
When standard contacts do not meet your needs
Difficulty wearing standard soft lenses does not necessarily rule out contact lenses altogether. If they do not provide suitable vision or comfort, Dr. Sturm can evaluate whether a specialty contact lens design may be appropriate. Some patients need treatment of an underlying eye condition before continuing lens wear.
Our specialty contact lens services offer additional options for more complex prescriptions and eye conditions.
Schedule your contact lens exam
InSight EyeCare provides contact lens exams and fittings in Cibolo for new and experienced wearers, including patients from nearby Schertz and Universal City.
Book an exam or call (210) 659-3937 for more information.