Contact lens fittings
Contact Lens Fittings in Downtown Chicago
Whether you’ve never worn contacts or you’ve been told your eyes are hard to fit, Dr. Pelini takes the time to get it right. Caring for Chicagoland eyes since 1996.
Lenses we fit
Dr. Pelini will find the best contact lens for your specific needs.
Soft lenses
Daily and monthly lenses, including toric lenses for astigmatism.
Multifocal lenses
For anyone over 40 who is noticing that reading is getting harder.
Scleral lenses
Larger lenses that rest on the white of the eye, often used for irregular corneas.
Rigid gas permeable lenses
Also called RGP or gas perm lenses, still the right choice for some eyes.
We fit contacts for
First-time wearers
Including people nervous about touching their eyes. You won’t leave until you’re comfortable.
Eyes that are hard to fit
Astigmatism, keratoconus or an unusual corneal shape. A core focus for Dr. Pelini.
People who gave up on contacts
Lenses that dried out by mid-afternoon. Materials and fitting methods have changed.
Patients with dry eyes
Sometimes the dryness is the thing to look at first. Read about dry eye care.
A fitting isn’t the same as an eye exam
Glasses need one prescription. Contacts sit directly on your eye, so they need measurements of the eye surface, a lens material and shape suited to it, and a check afterward to confirm the fit is working in real life.
That’s why a contact lens fitting is its own appointment, and why it includes follow-up visits to confirm the fit.
Running low on lenses?
Text or call, or reply to the reminder we send. We keep your prescription and your last order on file, so reordering is easy. We can also ship contacts straight to your door.
New to contacts? We’ll teach you.
First-time wearers get an insertion and removal training session with our optician, usually about an hour. You’ll practice until you can put lenses in and take them out on your own, and learn how to clean and store them. Now and then it takes a second visit.
You’ll also leave your exam with a free sample pair when available, and if a follow-up visit is needed to confirm your prescription within 90 days, there’s no charge.
Before your training
Trim your fingernails short.
Come without eye makeup.
Get a good night’s sleep.
Have a healthy snack beforehand.
If you’ve been told your eyes are difficult
Some eyes don’t work with standard lenses: an irregular cornea, significant astigmatism, keratoconus, or a surface too dry to keep a lens comfortable all day.
Those fittings take longer and often take more than one try. Dr. Pelini has been doing them for decades, and she would rather spend the extra appointment than send you home with something that almost works.
“I tried contacts and hated them.”
Often worth another try. Most people who quit were in a lens that was wrong for their eyes, not unable to wear contacts at all.
Common questions about contact lenses
Do you fit contacts for astigmatism or keratoconus?
Yes. Complex fittings are one of Dr. Pelini’s areas of focus. Read about keratoconus care.
How long does a fitting take?
Longer than a standard exam, and it includes the follow-up visits needed to confirm the fit.
Let’s find a lens that works for you
Or text or call (312) 427-6720. New patients welcome.
Results may vary. For advice about your own eyes, see Dr. Pelini.
Keep exploring: Keratoconus care · Dry eye care · Comprehensive eye exams · Insurance