Dr. Brook Keaton provides thorough exams that ensure your lenses fit properly, support healthy eyes, and match your daily needs. If you want lenses that feel comfortable and perform reliably, a dedicated contact lens exam is the right place to start.
Contact Lens Exams in Chesapeake, VA
Why a Contact Lens Exam Differs from a Regular Eye Exam
A standard eye exam focuses on how clearly you see with glasses. A contact lens exam focuses on how lenses interact with the surface of your eye, how they behave throughout the day, and whether your eyes stay healthy while you wear them.
During a contact lens exam, Dr. Keaton reviews your vision needs and daily routine, measures the shape and curvature of your cornea, evaluates your tear film, and looks for any signs of dryness or irritation. This information leads to a separate contact lens prescription that includes lens type, material, and design, not just your power.
The goal is simple: lenses that feel comfortable, stay stable, and support long-term eye health, not just lenses that allow you to see the chart in the exam room.
Signs You May Need a Contact Lens Exam
A dedicated contact lens exam is a smart next step if you:
- Want to try contact lenses for the first time
- Already wear contacts and are due for an update
- Experience dryness or discomfort partway through the day
- Have been told you are difficult to fit or not a good candidate
- Have conditions such as astigmatism, high prescriptions, keratoconus, or irregular corneas
These situations often require more detailed measurements and a more thoughtful approach than a quick refit or an online refill.
What Happens During a Contact Lens Exam
Patients often feel more relaxed once they know exactly what to expect.
First, Dr. Keaton discusses your goals. For example, you may want lenses for all-day wear, for sports only, or for social events. She will ask about your work environment, screen time, allergies, and any previous experience with contact lenses.
Next, she performs corneal measurements, evaluates the health of the eye surface, and assesses the quality of your tear film. Based on these findings, she selects trial lenses that match the shape and needs of your eyes. After the lenses have settled, she checks vision, comfort, and lens position at the slit lamp microscope.
If you are new to contact lenses, a trained staff member will teach you how to insert and remove the lenses safely, and how to clean and store them. You will have time to practice in the office so that you feel confident before you leave.
Exams for Patients Who Have Struggled with Contact Lenses
Many patients who schedule with Dominion Eye Care Chesapeake have already tried contact lenses elsewhere and felt that they were simply not a “contact lens person.” Often, the real issue is the lens material, design, or fit, or an underlying dry eye or ocular surface problem that was not fully addressed.
During your exam, Dr. Keaton looks for signs of dryness, inflammation, allergies, or corneal irregularities that can cause discomfort or blurred vision.
Specialty Contact Lens Exams for Complex Eyes
Some eyes require more than standard soft lenses. Dominion Eye Care Chesapeake has a strong focus on specialty contact lenses, particularly for patients with keratoconus, irregular corneas, high astigmatism, or post-surgical corneal changes.
For these patients, a specialty contact lens exam may involve advanced corneal mapping and additional follow-up visits to refine the fit. Scleral lenses, rigid gas permeable lenses, and other designs can provide crisp, stable vision when glasses and standard lenses do not.
If you have been told that contact lenses are not an option for you, or if your vision has never felt quite sharp with lenses, a specialty contact lens evaluation with Dr. Keaton may provide a solution that was not previously offered.
Contact Lens Exams for Children & Teens
For children and teens, a contact lens exam is not only about convenience. For many young patients, contact lenses are part of a broader myopia management plan intended to slow the progression of nearsightedness.
Dr. Keaton evaluates whether options such as MiSight® daily lenses or other designs are appropriate for your child. She discusses readiness, hygiene, sports participation, and daily responsibilities with both the child and the parent. Training for insertion, removal, and care is included, and families are encouraged to ask questions at each step.
Ready for a Contact Lens Exam in Chesapeake
Whether you are new to contacts, returning after discomfort, or looking for options for more complex eyes, Dominion Eye Care Chesapeake offers the level of evaluation that careful lens wear requires.
Contact our Chesapeake office to schedule a contact lens exam or to speak with a member of our team about which type of appointment is the best fit for your situation.