Contact Lens Fitting Principles

Contact Lens Fitting Principles

Contact Lens Fitting Principles

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Pre-Fitting Essentials - Foundation First

  • History:
    • Ocular: Prior CL issues, surgery, trauma, dry eye symptoms, allergies.
    • Systemic: DM, autoimmune (Sjogren's), thyroid; meds (antihistamines, OCPs → dry eye).
  • Motivation & Lifestyle:
    • Reason for wear, hygiene, environment (dust, AC).
  • Refraction:
    • Accurate manifest; vertex distance correction if power > ±4.00D.
    • Astigmatism: Amount & type (corneal vs. residual).
  • Ocular Exam:
    • Lids/Lashes: Blepharitis, MGD.
    • Conjunctiva: Hyperemia, papillae (e.g., GPC).
    • Cornea: Clarity, staining, neovasc; Keratometry (K-readings); Topography (if irregular).
    • Tear Film: TBUT (normal > 10s); Schirmer's (normal > 10mm/5min).
    • Pupil size (dim/bright light). Contact Lens Pre-fitting Assessment Steps

⭐ Keratometry provides average corneal curvature (K-readings), essential for initial contact lens base curve selection.

Soft Lens Fitting - Soft & Simple

  • Goal: Optimal vision, comfort, ocular health.

  • Initial Selection:

    • Base Curve (BC): Flatter than avg. K (e.g., avg. K + 0.8-1.0mm).
    • Diameter (Dia): HVID + 2mm (e.g., 13.8-14.5mm).
    • Power: Vertex-corrected Rx.
  • Assessment (📌 CCM):

    • Centration: Good.
    • Coverage: Full corneal.
    • Movement: 0.2-0.5mm on blink.
  • Fit Issues & Fixes:

    • Tight Fit: Minimal movement, discomfort. → Flatter BC (↑ radius) / ↓ Dia.
    • Loose Fit: Excessive movement, variable vision. → Steeper BC (↓ radius) / ↑ Dia.
  • Over-refraction: Refine power.

⭐ Ideal soft lens movement on blink is 0.2-0.5mm, ensuring tear exchange and comfort.

RGP Lens Fitting - Rigid & Precise

  • Goal: Optimal lens-cornea alignment: apical clearance or light central touch, adequate peripheral clearance for tear exchange.
  • Initial Selection:
    • Base Curve (BC): From K-readings (e.g., "on K" or flatter).
    • Diameter: Typically 9.0-10.0 mm. Optic Zone Diameter (OZD) related to pupil.
    • Peripheral Curves: Ensure adequate edge lift.
  • Dynamic Assessment: Movement (1-1.5 mm with blink), centration, fluorescein pattern.

RGP lens fluorescein patterns: flatter vs steeper fits

  • Fluorescein Patterns:
PatternAppearanceImplication (Action)
AlignmentEven, thin fluorescein; slight central/peripheral clearanceGood fit
SteepCentral pooling; peripheral bearingToo tight (Flatten BC)
FlatCentral touch; excessive edge liftToo loose (Steepen BC)
AstigmaticBand of touch/pooling (dumbbell shape)Consider Toric RGP

Specialty Fits & Follow-Up - Beyond Basics

  • Advanced Lens Applications:
    • Keratoconus: RGP (apical clearance/touch), scleral (vault), hybrid.
    • Post-Refractive Surgery (e.g., ectasia): Reverse geometry RGP, scleral.
    • Presbyopia: Monovision, multifocal (simultaneous/alternating), aspheric.
    • Aphakia: High (+) power, extended wear options.
  • Essential Follow-Up & Management:
    • Schedule: 1 wk, 1 mo, 3 mo, 6 mo, then annually.
    • Key Checks: VA, over-refraction, fit (centration, movement), corneal health (staining, edema), lens integrity.
    • Troubleshooting: Discomfort (edge, deposits), ↓VA (rotation, flexure), redness (⚠️ CLARE, CLPU, MK). Slit lamp exam of contact lens fit with fluorescein

⭐ Scleral lenses are a game-changer for severe irregular astigmatism (e.g., advanced keratoconus, post-PKP) and ocular surface disease, creating a tear reservoir_._

High-Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Keratometry (K-readings) guide initial Base Curve Radius (BCR) selection.
  • Soft lens BCR: typically 0.8-1.0 mm flatter than average K; OAD: 1-2 mm > HVID.
  • RGP fitting: fluorescein pooling = steep fit; central touch = flat fit.
  • Lens movement: 0.2-0.4 mm (soft), 1-2 mm (RGP) for tear exchange.
  • Over-refraction over trial lens finalizes lens power.
  • Steeper BCR (shorter radius) = tighter fit; flatter BCR (longer radius) = looser fit.

Practice Questions: Contact Lens Fitting Principles

Test your understanding with these related questions

A patient presents with eye pain, redness, and blurred vision after sleeping in contact lenses. Fluorescein staining reveals a corneal ulcer. What is the most appropriate management?

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Flashcards: Contact Lens Fitting Principles

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Hard lenses are made up of _____

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Hard lenses are made up of _____

PMMA

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