Optical

Contact lens wearers still need regular comprehensive eye exams — the lenses themselves don’t check for glaucoma, dry eye, or other changes happening inside the eye. National Contact Lens Health Week is a good reminder that hygiene habits protect your eyes day to day, but they don’t replace the exam that catches everything else. 

Quick Takeaways 

  • Clean hands, proper lens case care, and following your replacement schedule prevent most contact lens infections. 
  • Wearing contacts safely still requires a comprehensive eye exam on a regular schedule, not just a contact lens check. 
  • Redness, pain, or blurry vision mean remove your lenses and call your eye doctor right away. 
  • Never sleep in lenses unless your doctor has specifically approved it for overnight wear. 
  • New and returning contact lens wearers both need a current fitting before starting a new supply. 
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Why Contact Wearers Still Need Full Exams 

At Kings Eye Center, it’s common for contact lens patients to assume their yearly lens check covers everything, when in fact a contact lens exam and a comprehensive eye exam serve different purposes. A comprehensive exam checks eye pressure, the retina, and the optic nerve for conditions like glaucoma, which a routine lens fitting doesn’t screen for at all. 

The Habits That Actually Prevent Infections 

Clean, dry hands before every lens touch, no tap water for rinsing or storage, and swapping out your lens case regularly cover most of what keeps contact lens wear safe. The CDC notes that improper contact lens care is one of the most common contributors to preventable eye infections. Redness, pain, discharge, or blurry vision are signs to remove your lenses immediately and contact your eye doctor rather than waiting to see if it clears up. 

What a Combined Visit Looks Like 

At Kings Eye Center, a comprehensive exam and a contact lens fitting can often be scheduled together, so patients leave with both an updated prescription and a full picture of their eye health. Anyone overdue for either can use that visit to check both boxes at once. 

Patients in Hanford and throughout Kings County can schedule a comprehensive exam and contact lens fitting at Kings Eye Center, with an on-site Optical Shop available for backup glasses. Call (559) 585-3937 or book online.

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FAQs

Yes, in most cases. A contact lens fitting checks corneal shape and tear film specifically for lens fit, which isn’t part of a standard comprehensive exam. 

Most contact lens wearers should have a comprehensive eye exam and lens fitting check at least once a year, or sooner if vision or comfort changes. 

Remove the lenses right away and contact your eye doctor, since irritation can signal early infection that needs to be evaluated promptly. 

Reviewed by the clinical team at Kings Eye Center. Last reviewed: August 2026. The information in this article is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for a comprehensive eye examination by a qualified eye care professional. 

Kings Eye Center offers comprehensive eye exams and contact lens fittings for patients in Hanford and throughout Kings County. Request an appointment online or call (559) 585-3937.