Contacts lenses exam & fitting calgary
Get Your Contact Lenses in Calgary Fitted for Comfort and Clarity. Our Contact Lenses Exam comes with Trial Lenses.
Walk-Ins
Welcome
No appointment, no problem! Come by during our operating hours and we’ll squeeze you in.
Convenient
locatioN
3rd floor of the Core Shopping Centre, inside LensCrafters, steps from the C-Train.
Flexible
Scheduling
Busy weekdays? We're open Saturdays, so you can book an exam around work.
DIRECT BILLING
AVAILABLE
We bill your insurance directly, so you skip the paperwork and the wait for reimbursement.
Contact Lenses Exams and Fittings in Downtown Calgary
Get your contact lenses in Calgary with a contact lens exam. We’re located inside of LensCrafters on the 3rd floor of Core Shopping Centre. Getting here is easy on a lunch break. Fittings start at $35 with trial lenses included, and you leave with your prescription.
We direct-bill your insurance. New to contacts? We teach you how to put them in and take them out until you feel confident.
Meet Your Eye Doctors at Core Eye Care
We have two optometrists who see patients here: Dr. Cynthia Du, OD, and Dr. Alyshah Hassam, OD.
Dr. Du opened Core Eye Care in 2016 and focuses on dry eyes and myopia control. Dr. Hassam focuses on myopia control, ocular disease and dry eyes.
Dr. Du has dry eyes herself, and understands how irritable it can be. Dry eyes are a common reason lenses feel scratchy by the end of the day, so we check for it before we fit you.
Getting your contact lenses from an eye doctor means your eye health is checked first. We don’t sell glasses, and we don’t push products or extra tests. We recommend the lenses that suit your eyes and your routine. That’s how we run our practice.
What Happens at Your Contact Lens Exam & Fitting
Your glasses prescription doesn’t tell us how a lens will sit on your eye. Your contact lens exam measures that.
Here is what we check:
- Your tear film. We look at how well your tears coat your eye. Dry eyes can make lenses uncomfortable, so we find out first.
- The shape of your eye. We measure the curve of your cornea, the clear front surface of your eye, so the lens sits where it should.
- Your eye health. Your doctor uses a slit lamp, a microscope with a bright beam of light, to check the health of your cornea.
- How the lens fits. You try lenses in the clinic. Your doctor checks how each lens sits and moves on your eye, so your lens fits comfortably.
The goal is clear vision and a comfortable fit. You get your contact lens prescription during your exam, not weeks later.
Contact Lenses that We Fit in Calgary
Our contact lens services cover daily, biweekly and monthly soft lenses. We carry contact lens brands including Acuvue, Alcon, CooperVision and Bausch + Lomb, and we can special-order others on request.
Daily, Biweekly and Monthly Contact Lenses
Daily lenses go in the garbage each night, so there is nothing to clean. Biweekly (every two weeks) and monthly lenses last longer and need a cleaning routine. We help you pick the lenses that fits your lifestyle.
Toric Contact Lenses for Astigmatism
Astigmatism means the front of your eye curves more in one direction. Toric lenses correct for it and stay lined up on your eye.
Multifocal Contact Lenses
Struggling to read your phone with your contacts in? Multifocal lenses let you see up close and far away, without reading glasses on top.
Coloured Contact Lenses
Want to change your eye colour? We fit coloured lenses too. They get the same exam and fitting as any other lens, because a lens on your eye needs a proper fit either way.
New to Contacts? We'll Teach You Until It Clicks
Putting a lens in for the first time feels strange. That’s normal, and we don’t rush you.
First-time wearers get one-on-one training with our staff. We show you how to put lenses in, take them out and keep them clean. Training is a one-time $60 fee. If it doesn’t click on the first visit, come back as many times as you need at no extra charge.
A few habits we teach every new wearer:
- Wash and dry your hands before you touch a lens.
- Keep your lenses away from water, including tap water, showers and pools.
- Don’t sleep in your lenses unless we tell you it’s OK.
- Replace your lenses and case on schedule.
- Take your lenses out and call us if your eye turns red or painful.
Contact Lens Exam Cost in Calgary
We list our fees so you know the cost before you book. Every fitting fee includes your contact lens exam, trial lenses and your follow-up fit check.
- Standard lenses $35
Exam, fitting, trial lenses and follow-up fit check
- Toric lenses for astigmatism $55
Exam, fitting, trial lenses and follow-up fit check
- Multifocal lenses $80
Exam, fitting, trial lenses and follow-up fit check
- First-time wearer training $60
One-time fee, as many sessions as you need
- Using a prescription from another clinic $25
We check it before we use it
Insurance covers contact lens fittings, depending on your plan. We direct-bill your insurance, so you don’t have to. You pay anything your plan doesn’t cover at your visit.
Ready to get fitted? Book your eye exam with contact lenses online or call 403-290-1535.
How to Book Your Contact Lens Appointment
You have two ways to book:
- Due for an eye exam? Add your contact lens exam and fitting to your comprehensive eye exam. One visit covers both.
- Eye exam up to date? Book your contact lens exam and fitting on its own.
Either way, choose “Eye exam with contact lenses” when you book online.
You can also call us at 403-290-1535 to confirm and arrange. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours, depending on doctor availability.
Bring your Alberta health care card, your insurance card, your previous prescription and the glasses you wear now.
Already have a current contact lens prescription with us? Reorder your contacts online.
Frequently Asked Questions - contact lens exam calgary
Can I book just a contact lens exam?
Yes. If your eye exam is up to date, you can book a contact lens exam and fitting on its own. You can also add it to a comprehensive eye exam.
Is a contact lens prescription the same as a glasses prescription?
No, and it’s a common mix-up. Your glasses sit a short distance in front of your eyes, but your contact lenses sit right on them. That difference can change the power you need, so we adjust your prescription for contacts. Everyone’s eyes are shaped differently, so your contact lens prescription also lists the lens brand, curve and diameter that fit your eye. That’s why contacts need a fitting, not just a prescription.
Does insurance cover a contact lens fitting?
Insurance covers contact lens fittings, depending on your plan. We direct-bill your insurance company for you.
Does Alberta Health Care cover my child's contact lens fitting?
No. Alberta Health Care covers a yearly eye exam for children under 18, but not the contact lens fitting. Your private insurance may cover it, depending on your plan, and we direct-bill them for you.
Is my child old enough for contact lenses?
There’s no set age. Kids can start wearing contacts once you and your child feel they’re mature and responsible enough to look after them, like washing their hands first and putting lenses in and taking them out. We’re happy to talk it through at your child’s eye exam.
Can I use a prescription from another clinic?
Yes. We charge $25 to check an outside prescription before we use it. That way we know your lenses fit well and your eyes stay healthy.
How often do I need a contact lens eye exam?
Once a year, or as often as your optometrist recommends. At your yearly visit, we check your eye health and how your lenses fit, and update your prescription if it has changed.
Have diabetes? Book a yearly diabetic eye exam too. It looks at the back of your eye, while your contact lens exam focuses on the front.
What if my contact lenses feel dry?
Tell us at your exam. Dry eye is one of Dr. Du’s focus areas, and we’ll look at whether a different lens or wearing schedule could help.