General & Specialty Contact Lens Fittings
Many people assume that contact lenses are a one-size-fits-all product, but that’s actually not the case. Once you’ve obtained a prescription for eyewear, it’s important that you undergo a contact lens fitting—doing so helps ensure that your new lenses will be comfortable and that they won’t damage your eyes (for example, by scratching your corneas).
During a contact lens fitting, an optometrist will likely use a keratometer to measure the eyes’ curvature. (If a patient’s eyes are unusually curved, the provider may also use corneal topography to take additional measurements.) The optometrist will measure the patient’s pupils and irises, and they may also perform testing to determine whether the patient is susceptible to eye dryness.
Types of Specialty Contact Lenses
If you have a certain eye condition, you may benefit from using specialty contact lenses rather than standard ones. For example:
- Corneal abnormalities and surgical scarring can be treated with scleral lenses, which rest on the white of the eye instead of on the cornea.
- Dry eyes are often treated with rigid gas permeable lenses, since these lenses allow oxygen to pass into the cornea and don’t dry out like soft lenses sometimes do.
- Keratoconus (which occurs when the cornea becomes cone-shaped instead of rounded) may be treated with gas permeable, hybrid or piggybacking lenses.
- Presbyopia (which makes it difficult to see nearby objects) is often treated with bifocal or monovision lenses.
Where to Turn for Contact Lens Fittings in Tampa Bay
If you’re interested in getting contact lenses, you can rely on Florida Medical Clinic, a respected practice that’s been serving the Tampa Bay community since 1993. We proudly offer a wide array of optometry services at our offices in Land O’ Lakes and North Tampa, including contact lens exams and fittings. Click here to schedule an appointment at the location that’s most convenient for you.
Proudly Serving: Land O’ Lakes, and North Tampa.