It's important that you see your optometrist every year for an eye exam, especially if you wear contact lenses. Your annual eye exam helps your doctor notice any changes in your vision or overall eye health. Here are four things your eye doctor will do at your yearly eye exam:

1. Examine the condition of your current contact lenses.

You should go to your optometrist appointment wearing your contact lenses. This will give your eye doctor the chance to examine them. They will shine a light into your eyes to look for visible buildup, scratches, and tears on your contact lenses. This gives your optometrist an idea of how well you've been caring for your contact lenses. If your contacts are in poor condition, your doctor may want to go over proper lens care with you, which will help you better protect your eyes in the future.

2. Check for vision changes.

Your vision can change over time before finally stabilizing. Even if your prescription has remained more or less constant for years, there may still be some minor fluctuations. Wearing contact lenses with an outdated prescription means your vision won't be as clear as possible. Depending on the level of discrepancy between your vision and the prescription you're wearing, you could experience headaches. Annual eye exams mean you will always be wearing contacts that suit your eyes' current needs as much as possible.

3. Ask you about any new symptoms related to your contacts.

Your optometrist will ask you if you're experiencing any discomfort or other symptoms while wearing your contact lenses. If you're experiencing itchiness or dry eyes, you should inform your eye doctor. They may be able to suggest a solution for you, such as contact-safe eye drops. In some cases, you may need to change the brand of contact lenses you're wearing. All soft contacts are made from similar materials, but there are some slight differences between brands. Some contact lenses are more permeable than others, which means they're more comfortable for people with dry eyes.

4. Check the fit of your contact lenses.

Contact lenses come in various shapes and sizes to suit different eye shapes. If you have astigmatism, you may need a contact lens that is curved differently to accommodate your eyes. Your eye doctor will check the fit of your contact lenses by giving you a trial pair to put on in their office.