Eye Exam - "Eye Exam", "Glasses Exam", and "Routine Exam" are all synonomyous terms for a comprehensive eye examination. This type of exam includes thorough eye testing, eye coordination, vision assessment and the perscribing of eyeglasses when necessary. It does not include the fitting or perscribing of contact lenses (see below). If your vision insurance covers an "Eye Exam" (or portion of your exam), this is the type of exam that is covered.

If it is determined during you exam that there is a need for secondary care, such as treatment for an eye disease, vision therapy, or for a second opinion, you will be referred to a specialist. That appointment would then fall under the protocol of your general health insurance and any appropriate referrals from your primary care physician would need to be obtained.

Contact Lens Exam - A contact lens exam includes all of the testing as a regular eye exam (see above) but also includes a contact lens "fitting". A contact lens fitting is the process of determining a proper contact lens perscription. This involves selecting the initial contact lenses to try, which in some cases may need to be modified before a final perscription is obtained.

A contact lens exam also includes follow-up appointments for a certain length of time, which are important to monitor your vision, physical fit of the contact lenses, and your eye response health-wise to the lenses and solutions. A "fitting therefore should not be thought of as a one time measurement, but rather as an ongoing evaluation of your ability to safely and effectively wear your specific contact lenses.