Contact Lens Examinations & Fitting
Our Services
Contact lenses should be fitted to your eyes — not the other way around
Contact lenses sit directly on the eye, so the right fit matters. A well-fitted lens should provide clear vision, feel comfortable and support the health of your eyes. At Whanganui Eyecare, we take a personalised approach to contact lens fitting, considering your prescription, eye shape, lifestyle and visual needs to find the most suitable option for you.
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Whether you are new to contact lenses, want greater freedom from glasses, have changing visual needs or require something more specialised, our optometrists can help. We fit a wide range of soft, RGP, toric, multifocal, myopia-control and custom contact lenses, including options for more complex prescriptions and eye conditions.
What happens during a contact lens examination?
A contact lens examination involves far more than just checking your prescription.
Your appointment may include:
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Discussing your vision, lifestyle and contact lens goals
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Checking your prescription, tear film and eye health
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Assessing the shape and curvature of your cornea
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Taking measurements required for lens fitting
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Selecting and trialling appropriate lens designs
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Assessing the lens position, movement, comfort and vision
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Teaching you how to safely insert, remove and care for your lenses
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Arranging follow-up and ongoing monitoring when required
Our goal is not simply to find a lens you can wear, but to find a solution that provides clear, comfortable and healthy vision.
Contact Lens Options
Soft contact lenses
Soft contact lenses are flexible and available in a wide range of designs and replacement schedules. They can correct myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness), astigmatism and a wide range of prescription strengths.
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Options include:
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Daily disposable lenses A fresh pair each day, with no cleaning or storage required.
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Fortnightly lenses Replaced every two weeks and cleaned and stored between uses.
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Monthly lenses Replaced monthly and cleaned and stored between uses.
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Specialised soft lenses Specialised soft lenses are available in a wide range of powers and parameters, making them suitable for some people with high prescriptions or significant astigmatism. Different lens curvatures allow us to select a lens that fits the shape of your eye more closely.
Daily disposable lenses offer convenience and excellent hygiene, while fortnightly and monthly lenses can be a more economical option for people who wear contact lenses regularly.
Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Contact Lenses
RGP lenses have a rigid optical surface that can provide excellent visual clarity and may be particularly useful for complex prescriptions, significant astigmatism and irregular corneas. Although they can take some time to adapt to, a carefully fitted RGP lens can provide excellent vision.
Contact Lenses for Different Visual Needs
Contact Lenses for Astigmatism
Toric contact lenses
Toric contact lenses are designed for people with astigmatism, a common condition where the front of the eye is not evenly curved. Unlike a standard contact lens, a toric lens needs to stay in a consistent position on the eye to provide clear vision.
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Modern toric lenses use stabilising designs to help reduce rotation during blinking and throughout the day. They are available in a wide range of prescriptions and replacement schedules, including daily, fortnightly and monthly options.
Contact Lenses for Vision at Multiple Distances
As we get older, the eye gradually becomes less able to focus on close objects. This is known as presbyopia and commonly becomes noticeable from the 40s onwards. There are several contact lens options available for people who need clear vision at more than one distance. Your optometrist will assess which approach is suitable for you.
Multifocal contact lenses
Multifocal lenses are designed to provide useful vision at different distances, including distance, intermediate and near, and can reduce reliance on reading glasses for many people with presbyopia.
Blended vision (monovision)
Blended vision, or monovision, uses one eye primarily for distance and the other for near vision. It can be an alternative for some people who want to reduce their dependence on reading glasses.
Specialised Contact Lenses
Some eyes and prescriptions require more specialised solutions. We fit a range of custom and specialised contact lenses, including options for irregular corneas and complex visual requirements.
Keratoconus
Keratoconus causes the cornea to become thinner and more irregular, which can make clear vision difficult with glasses alone. Specialised RGP, hybrid, soft and scleral lenses may help provide clearer vision by creating a more regular optical surface.
Scleral lenses
Scleral lenses are large-diameter rigid lenses that vault over the cornea and rest on the white part of the eye. A fluid reservoir sits between the lens and cornea. They may be useful for people with irregular corneas, keratoconus, complex dry eye and other corneal or ocular surface conditions.
Post-surgical and post-graft lenses
Changes to the shape of the cornea following surgery or a corneal graft can sometimes make vision difficult to correct with glasses. Specialised contact lenses may provide an alternative for some patients.
Contact Lenses for Myopia Control
For children and young people whose short-sightedness is progressing, certain contact lens designs may be used to help manage the progression of myopia. These lenses are designed to provide clear central vision while also modifying the way light is focused in the peripheral retina, with the aim of slowing the progression of myopia. We can assess whether contact lens-based myopia management may be appropriate for your child and discuss the options available.
New to Contact Lenses?
If you have never worn contact lenses before, you don't need to know which type you need before your appointment. We will assess your eyes, discuss your lifestyle and visual requirements, and recommend the most appropriate options for you.
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We can also teach you how to:
It is normal for new wearers to need a little time to become confident with their lenses. We are here to guide you through the process.
Publicly Funded Contact Lenses
We are registered providers for the Health New Zealand contact lens subsidy. Funding may be available where contact lenses are required for medical need and the relevant eligibility criteria are met. We can check whether you may qualify.
Whether you’re new to contact lenses or need a different option, we can help find lenses that suit your eyes and everyday needs.
Have questions? We're here to help
Find answers to common questions about contact lens fittings, lens options, care, and what to expect during your appointment.
Yes. Contact lens prescriptions are different from glasses prescriptions. During your contact lens examination, we assess the shape of your eyes, the fit of the lenses, your tear film, and the health of the front surface of your eyes to ensure your lenses are safe and comfortable to wear.
Absolutely. If you're wearing contact lenses for the first time, we'll show you how to insert and remove your lenses safely, explain how to care for them, and answer any questions you have before you leave.
Yes. Modern contact lenses can correct most types of astigmatism. During your examination, we'll determine which lenses provide the best vision, comfort, and fit for your eyes.
We generally recommend an annual contact lens examination, although the appropriate review interval depends on your lenses, eye health and individual circumstances.
Not everyone is suited to contact lenses, and that's okay. If we feel another vision solution would be better for your eye health or lifestyle, we'll explain your options and recommend the most appropriate alternative.
Yes. Once your contact lens prescription has been finalised, you can reorder your lenses whenever you need them while your prescription remains current.
Meet our Optometrists
Our expert optometrists bring a wealth of experience, compassion, and dedication to every appointment. They are focused on helping you achieve lasting eye health, clear vision, and a tailored care plan designed around your unique visual needs and goals.
Kerry Bennett
Optometrist & Director
John Boyle
Optometrist & Director
Priyanka Fernandes
Optometrist
Asumi Yamaguchi
Optometrist