Brief
Course Description

Fitting
Soft Contact Lenses

To
best understand the art of fitting soft contact lenses is to first understand
the criteria of an optimal fitting scenario. Many techniques for lens
evaluation have remained unchanged since the inception of hydrogel lenses.
These evaluations include the characteristics of lens centration, corneal
coverage, lens movement, tightness, physical comfort, visual acuity,
and visual quality. When fitting hydrogels, a diagnostic lens fit will
expedite and optimize the results. Selection of the diagnostic lens
is based on material and parameter availability.

A diagnostic
lens should meet the requirements predetermined by the subjective and
objective measures in the pre-fitting examination. There are literally
hundreds of hydrogel lenses available. Using diagnostic lens sets allow
for ease of fitting without creating an excessive inventory. The fitter
should document the lens fitting characteristics that are consistent
and reproducible. An optimal fit is well-positioned, centered, and moves
well without hesitation (more on this later). A more precise method
is to describe the specific characteristics in detail, such as lens
position in primary, upward, and lateral gaze, decentration, tightness,
and surface quality.