Contact Lens Fittings & Evaluations 1.  Contact Lens Trial Given. 2.  Follow-up appointment at 1-2 weeks. 3.  Prescription for Contact Lenses will be dispensed at follow-up.  Rx given if the Doctor and Patient are happy with the vision, fit and comfort it provides.  If Doctor or Patient are not satisfied, a new trial is given and another follow-up appointment is scheduled. 4.  Process must be completed within 90 days.  Patient responsibility to schedule and return for follow-up care.  No additional charge for follow-up care if completed within 90 days.         Detailed Explanation of Fitting Process and Policies The contact lens fitting  and evaluation process begins with determining the eyeglass prescription that best corrects your vision.  The eyeglass prescription is compared to your corneal measurements (shape of the front of your eyes).  The contact lens material, brand, power, base curve & diameter are calculated from these measurements.  A trial lens is given to be evaluated for centration, coverage, movement, & the vision it provides.  When both the patient and the doctor are satisfied with the vision, fit, & performance of the trial lens; a final contact lens prescription will be provided.  This process must be completed within 90 days.  This is important as the contact lens prescription is valid for one year.  Please remember to wear your contact lenses to your follow-up appointment (unless they are irritating you).  If you lose or tear a trial lens, call the office and let us know. This is an essential part of the fitting process as it gives the patient an opportunity to trial the lens before making any purchases of lenses.  In addition, the follow-up appointment allows the Doctor to evaluate the lens after worn for a longer period of time (insures proper fit). Contact lenses often feel and fit differently after they are worn for hours.  This is the reason for and importance of the follow-up appointment.  There are many different types of contact lenses and we will work together to find the best lens for you. The contact lenses must be evaluated for vision, fit and compatibility of the areas of the eye it rests upon; on an annual basis.  Contact lenses are medical devices.  Contact lens prescriptions are regulated in a similar fashion to prescriptions for medications.  Scarring of the cornea could lead to permanent vision loss.  The above process reduces complications associated with contact lenses and is designed to protect the health of your eyes.    The extent of a contact lens prescription and when a contact lens prescription can safely and accurately be written shall be left to the professional judgment of the licensed practitioner in the State of Florida.

Handling of Contact Lenses Always wash your hands before handling the lenses Keep fingernails clean and free of jagged edges:  especially false fingernails as they have been associated with infections. Put the contact lens in the case first.  Fill the case ¾ the way full for overnight storage (avoids the lens floating on the surface of the solution) – Never use water – only solutions. Keep your case clean and use new solution in your case every day (dirty cases and old solution can grow bacteria). If your lenses have astigmatism:  aim the line on the lens toward the bottom of your eye when inserting. Inside out lenses flare out on the edges. Right side lenses curve inward like a bowl.

Wearing Schedule New Wearers of Contact Lenses: Day 1:    2-4 h       Day 3:    8-10 h        Day 5+: Max 12 h Day 2:    4-8 h       Day 4:    10-12 h Each day the contacts should feel better.  If they feel worse or your eyes are irritated, take out the contacts & call the office. Avoid Wearing Contact Lenses for more than 12-14 hours per day The best habit is to take out your contacts around 8 pm and put your eyeglasses on for the rest of the evening.  Daily Moisturizing is Recommended:  Use Artificial Tears (Systane or Refresh) in the morning when you wake up and at night before you go to sleep.

Replacement Schedule Replacement of the lenses varies by brand.  The doctor will indicate your personal replacement schedule during your contact lens fitting. DW (Daily Wear) Only is the best modality Do not sleep in your contacts lenses The cornea (front of your eye) is a clear tissue that does not have a blood vessel supply.  The cornea derives what it needs by a pump system on the back surface of its' structure.  Pumps need energy to work.  The energy the pump needs to work comes from oxygen.  Therefore, the cornea relies on the air-tear exchange to get the oxygen and nutrients it needs to maintain clarity and function. When you put a contact lens over your cornea and close your eyelid over it, your cornea receives decreased oxygen.  Contact lenses with increased permeability for oxygen are still hindered when the eyelid closes over it.  This makes the cornea swell and vulnerable to infection.