Contact Lens Exams and Regular Eye Exams in Canada
A regular eye exam and a contact lens assessment answer related but different questions. The examination considers your vision and eye health. A contact lens assessment also considers which lens fits your eye, how it performs and how you will wear and care for it.
A glasses prescription alone is not enough to choose a contact lens. Lens material, shape, size and fit matter alongside prescription strength. The Canadian Association of Optometrists advises professional assessment when selecting lenses. Canadian Association of Optometrists - Contact lens selection
Tell the clinic you want contact lenses
When booking, say whether you are trying contacts for the first time, returning to them or already wearing them. Explain the activities you want them for and any previous discomfort. Ask whether the comprehensive examination and fitting can be arranged together or require separate visits.
For an existing wearer, bring the packaging or details of the lenses and care products you use. Tell the clinician how long you wear them, whether you nap in them and when discomfort starts. Describe your usual routine accurately so the clinician can assess the fit and care requirements.
What the fitting is intended to check
The clinician considers your prescription, eye surface and the lens characteristics needed for your eyes. A trial lens may be used to assess vision, fit and comfort. Different products are not automatically interchangeable because a number printed on the package looks similar. Canadian Association of Optometrists - Contact lens selection
Ask what the recommended lens is intended to achieve and whether it suits your intended wear. Occasional sport, long office days and other activities can raise different practical questions. If a lens does not feel right, tell the clinician before ordering a larger supply.
Learn the care routine before taking lenses home
Make sure you can follow the insertion, removal and care instructions for your specific lens. Ask staff to demonstrate again if needed. Follow the recommended wearing and replacement schedule, and use the advised cleaning system for lenses that require it. Do not sleep in lenses unless the eye-care professional has specifically instructed that this is appropriate for the prescribed product and your situation. Canadian Association of Optometrists - Contact lens care
Wash and fully dry your hands before handling lenses. Keep lenses away from water, and remove them before swimming or showering. For reusable lenses, use the recommended disinfecting solution and do not mix fresh solution with used solution in the case. CDC - Preventing contact lens infections
Ask what to do if you drop or damage a lens, cannot remove it or develop discomfort. Keep glasses available as an alternative. A written routine can be useful while you are learning.
Follow-up is part of the decision
Ask when the fit should be reviewed and how to report a problem between visits. A lens that seems comfortable at first still needs to be worn according to the prescribed schedule. Do not extend wear or change products on your own because you have run out.
If you stopped wearing lenses because of dryness, explain what happened. An assessment may investigate the cause before considering another option. Our dry eye guide describes questions to raise.
If the wearer is a child whose distance prescription keeps changing, ask whether myopia management should be discussed. Do not start a child's treatment from this page.
Confirm what the fee includes
Ask whether the quote covers the eye examination, fitting, teaching, trial lenses and follow-up, and whether the lenses themselves are separate. Public examination coverage and a private eyewear allowance may apply differently. Confirm the service categories with the clinic and insurer before relying on reimbursement.
Use our eye exam cost guide to compare the scope of a quote. Compare the included services as well as the quoted fee.
A painful or red eye needs prompt attention
Remove your contact lenses and contact an eye-care professional immediately if you develop redness, pain, light sensitivity or sudden blurred vision. A contact lens related infection can be serious. Do not put the lenses back in until you have been advised it is safe. CDC - Contact lens related eye infections
For a routine fitting or review, find an optometry clinic on iSeeWell and confirm that it provides contact lens assessment. Describe whether you are a first-time or existing wearer so the appointment can be arranged appropriately.
Book an eye exam online
iSeeWell helps you find a clinic and request an appointment:
- Find optometry clinics across Canada
- Confirm the clinic offers the service you need
- Wait for the clinic to confirm the appointment
For coverage by province, see eye exam coverage in Canada. For signs it may be time to book, see when to get an eye exam. For cost details, see eye exam cost in Canada. More guides. Clear vision starts with the right care and the right appointment.
About this information: iSeeWell helps patients find clinics and request appointments; it does not provide clinical care. This is general information, not individual medical advice. Appointment requests require clinic confirmation.