November 28, 2024
So you've decided to try contact lenses. Maybe you're tired of your glasses fogging up every time you walk into a warm building in January. Maybe you want to wear non-prescription sunglasses on the ski hill. Maybe you just want to see your own face without frames for a change. Whatever your reason, the first step is a contact lens fitting, and if you've never had one before, you probably have questions.
We fit first-time contact lens wearers every single week at our Okotoks clinic, and a lot of them drive down from south Calgary communities like Shawnessy, Sundance, and McKenzie Towne. It's about a 10 to 15 minute drive, and people are often surprised how straightforward the whole process is. Here's a detailed walkthrough so you know exactly what to expect.
A Contact Lens Fitting Is Not the Same as a Regular Eye Exam
This is the number one thing people get wrong. You cannot just take your glasses prescription and order contacts online. Well, you can, but the results will likely be uncomfortable and potentially harmful to your eyes.
Your glasses sit about 12 millimetres in front of your eye. Contact lenses sit directly on the surface of your cornea. That difference in distance changes the effective power of the lens, especially for higher prescriptions. A -4.00 in glasses is not the same as a -4.00 in contacts.
Beyond the prescription conversion, contact lenses need to physically fit your eye. Your cornea has a specific curvature and diameter, and the lens has to match those measurements or it will slide around, pinch, dry out, or cause irritation. That's what the fitting appointment determines.
What Measurements Get Taken
During a contact lens fitting, we take several measurements that have nothing to do with your glasses prescription:
- Base curve (BC): This is the curvature of the back surface of the contact lens, measured in millimetres. It needs to match the curvature of your cornea. Too flat and the lens won't centre properly. Too steep and it will suction onto your eye and restrict oxygen flow. Most people fall between 8.3 and 8.8 mm.
- Corneal diameter: The overall width of your cornea, which determines the diameter of the contact lens you need. Standard soft lenses are typically 14.0 to 14.5 mm in diameter, but the specific size depends on your eye.
- Tear film evaluation: We look at the quality and quantity of your tears. Contact lenses float on your tear film, so if you have dry eyes, we need to account for that when choosing a lens material. Some materials retain moisture much better than others.
- Corneal health check: We examine the surface of your cornea under magnification to make sure there are no issues that would make contact lens wear problematic, like scarring, irregularities, or signs of infection.
These measurements are quick and painless. The whole evaluation adds about 15 to 20 minutes on top of a standard eye exam.
Trial Lenses: You Get to Test Drive
Here's the part most first-timers don't expect: you don't just get measured and sent home with a box of lenses. We put actual trial lenses on your eyes during the appointment.
Once we've determined your prescription, base curve, and diameter, we select a trial pair from our in-office inventory. You'll wear them for 15 to 20 minutes while we check the fit under the slit lamp (a microscope with a bright light). We're looking at how the lens moves when you blink, how it centres on your cornea, and whether there's adequate tear exchange underneath the lens.
A well-fitting contact lens should move about 0.5 to 1 mm with each blink. It should centre well, with complete corneal coverage, and it should be comfortable within a few minutes of insertion. If the first trial lens doesn't meet those criteria, we try a different base curve, diameter, or material. Sometimes it takes two or three attempts to get the right combination.
You'll leave the appointment wearing the trial lenses so you can experience them in real life for a few days before committing to a supply.
Types of Lenses You Might Try
The contact lens market has changed dramatically over the past decade. There's no one-size-fits-all option, and part of the fitting process is determining which type works best for your lifestyle, prescription, and eye health.
Daily Disposables
You open a fresh pair every morning and throw them away at night. No cleaning, no solution, no lens case. This is what we recommend for most first-time wearers, and here's why: there's almost no risk of complications from dirty lenses. Every day is a brand new, sterile lens. Brands like Acuvue Oasys 1-Day, Dailies Total 1, and CooperVision MyDay are all excellent options.
Monthly Lenses
You wear the same pair for up to 30 days, cleaning and storing them in solution each night. The upfront cost per box is lower, but you need to buy solution, and you need to actually follow the cleaning routine. For people who wear contacts every single day, monthlies can be more economical. Popular choices include Air Optix plus HydraGlyde and Biofinity.
Bi-Weekly Lenses
A middle ground. You replace them every two weeks. Acuvue Oasys is the classic option here and remains one of the most comfortable lenses on the market.
Toric Lenses (for Astigmatism)
If you have astigmatism, you'll need toric contact lenses. These have different powers in different meridians of the lens and are weighted to stay oriented correctly on your eye. They used to be expensive and uncomfortable, but modern torics from Acuvue, Alcon, and CooperVision are genuinely good. The fitting process takes a bit longer because we need to verify the lens rotation is stable.
Multifocal Lenses
If you're over 40 and need reading glasses on top of your distance prescription, multifocal contacts can eliminate the need for both. They work differently than progressive eyeglass lenses, using concentric rings of different powers. There's a short adaptation period, but most people adjust within a week.
The Insertion and Removal Training
This is the part that makes people nervous, and honestly, it should be the part you're least worried about. Everyone learns. We've never had a patient who couldn't do it.
During the fitting, we spend as much time as you need teaching you how to insert and remove your lenses. Here's what the process looks like:
- Wash and dry your hands thoroughly. This is non-negotiable. Every time.
- Place the lens on the tip of your index finger. Make sure it's right-side-out. A properly oriented lens looks like a smooth bowl. An inside-out lens has edges that flare outward slightly.
- Use your other hand to hold your upper eyelid open. Use the middle finger of your lens hand to pull down the lower lid.
- Look straight ahead (or slightly up) and place the lens on the coloured part of your eye. Release your eyelids slowly and blink gently.
- For removal: Look up, slide the lens down to the white of your eye with your index finger, then pinch it gently between your index finger and thumb.
The first time takes a while. Your blink reflex is strong, and touching your own eye feels deeply wrong. That's normal. By the third or fourth time, it takes about 10 seconds per eye. Within a week, you'll do it without thinking.
We also have a how-tos page with video guides you can watch at home to practise your technique. It's genuinely helpful for reinforcing what you learned in the office.
The Follow-Up Appointment
After wearing your trial lenses for about a week, you'll come back for a follow-up. This is a critical part of the fitting that a lot of people skip when they order contacts online, and it's a mistake.
At the follow-up, we check:
- How the lenses look on your eyes after a week of real-world wear
- Whether there are any signs of dryness, redness, or irritation
- If the prescription is accurate for both distance and near tasks
- Whether you're happy with the comfort and vision quality
- That your corneal health hasn't changed since the initial fitting
If everything looks good, we finalize your prescription and you can order your supply. If something needs adjusting, we try a different lens. There's no extra charge for this. The follow-up is part of the fitting.
Daily vs. Monthly: Making the Decision
This is the question every first-timer asks, and the answer depends entirely on how often you plan to wear contacts.
| Factor | Daily Disposables | Monthly Lenses |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Part-time wear (3-4 days/week) | Full-time wear (6-7 days/week) |
| Maintenance | None | Nightly cleaning & storage |
| Comfort | Fresh lens every day | Comfort decreases near end of month |
| Infection risk | Lowest | Low if cleaned properly |
| Annual cost (approx.) | $500 - $700 | $250 - $400 + solution |
| Travel convenience | No solution needed | Must pack solution & case |
If you only want contacts for weekends, sports, or special occasions, dailies are the obvious choice. You're not paying for lenses you don't use, and you never have to worry about a half-used pair drying out in a case. If you wear contacts every day for work, monthlies may save you money over the year.
We typically start first-timers on dailies regardless, just to simplify the learning curve. Once you're comfortable with the basics, you can always switch to monthlies later.
What About Cost?
The fitting itself is included with your eye test when you purchase your lenses through us. There's no separate fitting fee.
A year's supply of daily disposable contacts typically runs between $500 and $700, depending on the brand and your prescription. Monthly lenses are cheaper per box but you need to factor in the cost of solution ($60-80 per year). Specialty lenses like torics and multifocals cost more because they're more complex to manufacture.
Most Alberta health benefit plans cover a portion of contact lens costs. Blue Cross, Manulife, Sun Life, Great-West Life, and most employer plans include a contacts allowance. We do direct billing to most insurers, so you only pay the difference at the counter.
You can also order refill supplies through our online shop for home delivery once your prescription is finalized.
Common First-Timer Concerns
"Can a contact lens get stuck behind my eye?"
No. Physically impossible. There's a membrane (the conjunctiva) that connects the inside of your eyelid to the front of your eye. A lens can slide under your upper lid, but it can't go behind your eye. If it slides, close your eye, look in different directions, and it will move back into place.
"I can't touch my eye."
You're not actually touching your eye. You're placing the lens on the tear film that covers your cornea. There's a liquid layer between your finger and your eye. And the blink reflex settles down quickly with practice.
"Are contacts safe for my teenager?"
Yes. Studies show that children as young as 8 can handle contact lenses responsibly. Teenagers often do better with dailies since there's no cleaning routine to forget.
Getting Here from Calgary
We're located in Okotoks, about 20 minutes straight south of Calgary on Highway 2A. If you're coming from south Calgary communities like Shawnessy, Sundance, Cranston, Seton, McKenzie Towne, Auburn Bay, Walden, or Legacy, you're looking at 10 to 15 minutes on Macleod Trail or Deerfoot. Most of our patients tell us it's actually faster than driving across Calgary to get to a downtown or northwest location.
Our address is Unit 401, 235 Milligan Drive in Okotoks. There's plenty of free parking right outside the door.
Ready to Try Contacts?
If you've been thinking about contact lenses, the fitting is the easy part. Book a contact lens fitting and we'll walk you through everything, from measurements to your first insertion, at a pace that works for you. No rush, no pressure, and no judgement if it takes you 20 minutes to get the first lens in. Everyone starts somewhere.