What should be done if a patient arrives for their contact lens follow-up wearing their old lenses?

When a patient arrives for a contact lens follow-up wearing their old lenses, it's essential to have them remove those lenses and insert the new ones before continuing with visual acuity (VA) testing. This procedure is important for several reasons. Firstly, wearing old lenses may lead to discrepancies in the examination results, as the old lenses could be outdated or not aligned with the current prescription. This might give an inaccurate assessment of the patient's vision, which could impact their comfort and the fit of the new lenses.

Additionally, testing with the new lenses allows the optometrist to evaluate the patient’s comfort, vision quality, and the overall fit of the lenses during the follow-up visit. This process ensures that the patient receives the most accurate information regarding how well the new lenses will serve them in daily activities.

In contrast, continuing the exam with the old lenses or assuring the patient that it’s not an issue would potentially compromise the quality of care provided. It’s crucial to ensure that the examination accurately reflects the patient’s lens needs for optimal visual health.