A common misconception about contact lenses is that the prescription for contacts is the same as the prescription for your glasses. However, because a contact lens fits on the surface of the eye rather than at the plane of the glasses, the prescription can often differ. It’s also important to check how the contacts fit on the surface of the eyes because a poor fit can lead to discomfort and complications. All of these things are checked and evaluated during the contact lens portion of an exam.
There are also different types of contact lenses, i.e. soft vs hard contact lenses.