Differences between Comprehensive Eye Exams & Contact Lens Exams | Yardley Eye Care (2023)

FAQs

What is the difference between a comprehensive eye exam and a contact lens exam? ›

Comprehensive eye exams are an in-depth vision and eye health exams that test your visual acuity and for certain eye diseases. Exams for contacts, by contrast, only check your visual acuity and fit you for contact lenses.

During a comprehensive eye exam, your ophthalmologist will assess much more than your visual acuity. He or she will test for common eye diseases, assess how your eyes work together and evaluate the health of your retina, optic nerve and retinal blood vessels.

A medical exam includes diagnosis and treatment of an eye disease or malady (like glaucoma, conjunctivitis, or cataracts). A routine eye exam, on the other hand, includes diagnosis and treatment of non-medical complaints, like astigmatism, or farsightedness.

Pupil dilation is very important for people with risk factors for eye disease, because it allows for the most thorough evaluation of the health of the inside of your eyes.

A contact lens exam will include both a comprehensive eye exam to check your overall eye health, your general vision prescription and then a contact lens consultation and measurement to determine the proper lens fit.

A contact lens exam can have several components, including a consultation with the optometrist, measurements of a few key parts of your eyes, a tear film evaluation, and a contact lens fitting.

Eye exams can easily identify common causes of blindness such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. Occurrences of these conditions increase significantly as we age. Vision loss often can be prevented or reduced with early detection from regular eye exams.

Why is a contact lens exam more expensive? Additional testing is required for contact lenses because they are classified as medical devices. The optometrist will need to evaluate the size and shape of your eye, as well as other factors like your tear production levels.

5) There are different types of eye charts

There's not just one but different types of eye charts and all are used to test vision. These include Snellen Chart, LogMAR Chart, Jaeger Chart, E Chart, and Landolt C Chart.

What tests and procedures go into a routine eye exam? ›

A technician will often perform a few basic tests before you see the doctor, including a color sensitivity test, peripheral vision test, a glaucoma (or “air puff” test) and a cover test to determine how well your eyes work together.

Visual Acuity Test

This is the "eye chart" test that you may be familiar with. You're positioned about 20 feet away from the chart and asked to identify a series of letters printed on a chart (officially called a Snellen Eye Chart).

When Should You Get the Exam? If you wear contacts, you need to see your eye doctor annually for an exam. Since contact lenses cover a portion of the eye they reduce the amount of oxygen getting to the cornea. Over time, this can impact the health of the eye and cause damage.

The answer is no. While they both have the same objective — to correct what eye doctors call “refractive errors” that prevent you from seeing correctly — prescriptions for eyeglasses and contact lenses are distinctly different.

Your eye care professional has to give you your contact lens prescription when they complete your fitting. They also should ask you to sign a confirmation that you got a copy of your prescription.

During your eye exam for contact lenses, your visual acuity will be tested using an eye chart, and a number of tests will be performed to determine your eye health and whether prescription eyewear is required to correct refractive errors.

The expiration date for your contact lens prescription is currently set by the State of California — for normal prescriptions, it is one to two years. If you have additional health concerns, your doctor may place a shorter time period on your contact lens prescription.

Vision screening programs can't substitute for regular professional vision care. Children or adults who pass a vision screening could still have an eye health or vision problem. Comprehensive eye examinations are the only effective way to confirm or rule out any eye disease or vision problem.

A regular, routine eye test can sometimes detect eye problems that indicate the presence of a brain tumour before any symptoms become obvious. An eye test is particularly good at identifying any swelling of the optic disc (a condition called papilloedema) and can also identify when there is pressure on the optic nerve.

If you don't have any symptoms or vision problems, doctors recommend getting regular eye exams based on your age: Ages 20 to 39: Every 5 years. Ages 40 to 54: Every 2 to 4 years. Ages 55 to 64: Every 1 to 3 years.

How much does Walmart charge for a contact lens exam? ›

A. A comprehensive eye health and vision exam is $80. A contact lens exam is $115. If you need bifocal correction or want to wear contact lenses for the first time, the exam cost $145.

When I sat down and asked him what the contact lens fitting fee is all about, he said it's charged because vision insurance providers only view glasses — not contacts — as “medically necessary.” That explains why my vision insurance covers all but $25 of the $175 comprehensive exam and not the contact lens fitting fee.

Typically, the average cost of a contact lens exam ranges between $120-$250. The average cost of a regular eye exam will vary depending on where you live and the type of optometry office you visit. With that said, keep in mind these are averages. Contact lens fittings without insurance can start as low as $100.

If you want to get the best results from your eye exam — and the most accurate prescription — research suggests 8 a.m. or 8 p.m. is the best time to book your eye exam.

Once the initial routine eye exam is complete, the pupil dilation portion of the exam takes place. In this portion of the exam, your doctor will place a few drops of a solution in each of your eyes that cause the pupils to dilate or widen.

Even the types of letters used are carefully chosen. You'll notice, next time you look at an eye chart, not every letter of the alphabet is used. Only the letters C, D, E, F, L, N, O, P, T and Z.

The most common in clinical practice is the Snellen chart, while research studies more often use logMAR charts, such as the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) chart. The Snellen Chart uses a geometric scale to measure visual acuity, with normal vision at a distance being set at 20/20.

There are three different types of eye exams, including a comprehensive eye exam, a routine eye exam, and a contact lens exam. Depending on when your last appointment was and the kind of vision correction you need, the optometrist may use a different exam.

Everyone over age 50 should have a dilated eye exam every year or as recommended by your eye care professional, even if you have good vision and don't wear contacts or glasses. After age 60, you should get a dilated eye exam every year or two.

Is refraction part of routine eye exam? ›

What is a Refraction Test? A refraction test is usually given as part of a routine eye examination. It may also be called a vision test. This test tells your eye doctor exactly what prescription you need in your glasses or contact lenses.

Many providers recommend avoiding caffeine before your appointment because it can raise your blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause your exam results to be inaccurate because they can cause symptoms like blurry vision or headaches.

Don't: Wear Your Contacts To Your Eye Exam

If you wear your contacts to your exam, you'll probably have to take them out before the exam. It's best to wear your glasses and take them off when asked. To be safe, bring your contact lenses to your appointment.

Why do I need a new eye test for a contact lens prescription? In addition to the numbers on your glasses prescription, your optician will need to make some additional measurements if you're planning to wear contact lenses.

Does your vision insurance cover contact lens exams? Actually, many insurance policies do not. Some plans offer a high copay, such as $40, for a standard lens exam. Others offer a discount off of the optometrist retail price.

If you wear contacts, you need to see your eye doctor annually for an exam. Since contact lenses cover a portion of the eye they reduce the amount of oxygen getting to the cornea. Over time, this can impact the health of the eye and cause damage.

Typically, the average cost of a contact lens exam ranges between $120-$250. The average cost of a regular eye exam will vary depending on where you live and the type of optometry office you visit. With that said, keep in mind these are averages. Contact lens fittings without insurance can start as low as $100.

Can You Use Your Glasses Prescription for Contact Lenses? Unfortunately, you can't use your current glasses prescription for contact lenses. While both can correct your vision, your prescription for glasses differs from a contact lens prescription in many ways.

Because eyeglasses sit some distance away from your eyes, the prescription for glasses is typically a bit stronger than for contact lenses. This is the primary difference between the two prescriptions.

Most plans, including VSP insurance, provide a higher benefit for glasses, allowing for the cost of both frames and lenses and usually amounting to almost double to what is given for contact lenses.

What is the average cost of contact lenses without insurance? ›

What You Can Expect to Pay. Disposable contact lenses cost approximately $200 to $1,000 per year or $15 to $85 per month for regular wearers, if you're buying for both eyes. This range is so broad because it encompasses different types of contact lenses for different kinds of vision correction.

Glasses are generally less expensive than contacts in the long run because they do not need to be replaced as often. However, if your glasses break, they can be expensive to replace.

Specialty contacts that require a higher or uncommon prescription may cost more than those designed for mild to moderate myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness). There are also many different types and brands of contacts, which can impact price.

The wrong prescription could lead to an uncomfortable fit and potential eye damage. You may be wondering, “do I need a contact lens fitting every year?” It's important to get an annual fitting, as well as a yearly eye exam, to check for any changes in your eye shape and health.

You should have at least one regular fitting each year. Although, this could be every 6 months, depending on which type of contact lens you use and how frequently your prescription needs adjusting. The daily wear and tear on the eye caused by wearing contacts can cause damage over time.