Wearing a soft contact lens should feel like you’re not wearing anything at all on your eye. Is that possible? Yes, it is.
First, the fit has to be spot-on. There is no “one-size-fits-all” soft contact lens. If you’ve worn eyeglasses, but never contact lenses, you’re familiar with the standard eye exam. Your eye doctor will need to do additional tests and measurements before writing your contact lens prescription. For example, the doctor will use a keratometer to measure the curvature of your eye. If a lens is too steep or too flat, your eyes will be uncomfortable, and the lens could damage your eye over time. The doctor may also use a corneal topographer, which produces a color map showing the contours of your eye. This will reveal astigmatism and any unusual steepness of the cornea.
Another test that many doctors use, especially for people who want to wear a soft contact lens, is a test that measures your tears. If the test shows your eyes are dry, the doctor may decide to prescribe a soft contact lens material made especially for dry eyes.
Remember, too, that after the doctor has done a great job of selecting the soft contact lens that’s best for you, you must do your part and keep those lenses clean and disinfected according to the doctor’s instructions. Proper cleaning goes a long way toward keeping your lenses crystal clear and comfortable.