Can an entire exam be performed on a patient who is wearing their contact lenses?

During a comprehensive eye exam, it is generally advised that patients remove their contact lenses prior to the examination. This is to ensure an accurate assessment of the ocular health and refractive error. Contact lenses can alter the shape of the cornea and affect vision, which could lead to inaccurate results if the exam is conducted while the lenses are still in place.

Removing the lenses allows the practitioner to observe the natural state of the eye, evaluate the cornea, and properly assess the overall health of the visual system without interference from the lenses. Additionally, contact lenses can sometimes cause irritation or dryness, which might also impact the accuracy of various tests performed during the exam.

While certain aspects of the exam, such as checking vision, could technically be performed with the lenses in, the best practice is to conduct the complete examination without them to ensure the most reliable results for diagnoses and treatment recommendations.