Your First Contact Lens Fitting in Australia: What Happens, What It Costs and What to Bring

Before You Book: Questions Worth Asking the Practice

Let the practice know you're booking a first contact lens fitting rather than a routine eye exam.

First fittings often need extra time for assessing trial lenses and for insertion-and-removal training. Appointment length, fees and what's included all vary between practices, so it's worth asking:

• How much time should I set aside?
• Is there a separate fitting fee on top of the eye exam?
• Are trial lenses included?
• Is insertion and removal training included?
• Are follow-up visits covered in the quoted price?
• What happens if the first trial lens doesn't work out?
• Should I skip eye makeup on the day?
• When will my exact lens prescription and product be confirmed?
• Can I get an itemised receipt for my health fund?

Asking these upfront gives you a picture of the whole fitting process, not just the price of the first visit.

What Should You Bring?

Pack:

• Your current glasses
• A recent glasses prescription, if you have one
• A list of medications and eye drops you're using
• Details of any allergies or past eye conditions
• Your Medicare card
• Your private health insurance details, if you have extras cover
• Any questions you have about cost, lens care or follow-ups

Your glasses matter more than you'd think — you may need them once the trial lenses come out, and every contact lens wearer should keep a pair on hand as a backup regardless. It's also worth asking whether the practice prefers first-timers to arrive without heavy eye makeup, since you'll likely be practicing holding your eyelids and inserting and removing the lenses yourself.

Is a Contact Lens Fitting Different to an Eye Test?

Yes.

A routine eye exam checks your vision and eye health. A contact lens fitting builds on that but also looks at how a specific lens will physically sit and behave on the surface of your eye.

In Australia, you can book an eye test directly with an optometrist — no GP referral needed.

During a fitting, the optometrist may check:

• The shape and curve of the front of your eye
• The condition of your cornea
• Your eyelids and tear film
• How completely you blink
• Any signs of dryness, inflammation or irritation
• How a trial lens sits and moves
• Your vision with the lens in place

Not every appointment covers exactly the same ground — what gets tested depends on your eyes, your prescription, and the type of lens under consideration.

A glasses prescription alone won't tell your optometrist which contact lens you need. A contact lens prescription (or confirmed lens specification) typically covers things like the prescribed brand and model, power for each eye, base curve and diameter, cylinder and axis for astigmatism, an addition value for some multifocal lenses, and the replacement schedule.

Prescription contact lenses that correct a sight problem must be prescribed by a suitably authorised Australian healthcare professional. Two products with similar-looking numbers on paper can still differ in material, dimensions and design — don't assume they're interchangeable.

What Actually Happens During the Fitting?

The exact process varies by practice, but a first fitting commonly runs through these stages.

1. You talk through how you plan to use contacts

Your optometrist will likely ask whether you want lenses for:

• Everyday wear
• Work or study
• Sport and exercise
• Social occasions
• Travel
• Occasional wear alongside your glasses

Be honest about your actual routine — someone after lenses for weekend sport has different priorities to someone planning to wear them through a full working day.

You should also flag:

• Long stretches of screen time
• Dry, gritty or often-red eyes
• Seasonal allergies
• Any past eye infections or injuries
• Work around dust, chemicals, heat or moving air
• Regular swimming or water sports
• Medications and eye drops you use
• Any past trouble with contact lenses

Don't play down symptoms just because you're keen to walk out with lenses. Existing soreness, infection, inflammation or significant dryness may need to be looked into before lens wear even starts.

2. Your vision and eye health get assessed

The optometrist may run or update your eye exam before selecting any trial lenses.

They'll take your glasses prescription into account, but your contact lens power may not match it exactly — glasses sit in front of your eyes, while a contact lens sits directly on the eye's surface. They'll also weigh up whether your eyes look suitable for lens wear in the first place.

3. Your eyes and lens requirements get measured

This covers the shape and curve of your cornea, plus the lens size, position and movement your eyes are likely to need.

Prescription power is only one piece of the puzzle. The lens also has to centre properly and move the right amount while still giving you clear, comfortable vision.

4. A trial lens gets selected

Your optometrist picks a trial lens based on your prescription, eye measurements, ocular surface, how you plan to use the lenses, and your replacement preferences.

Depending on your needs, that might be a spherical lens, a toric lens for astigmatism, a multifocal lens, a daily disposable, or a fortnightly or monthly reusable.

The first trial lens isn't necessarily the final pick — fittings can involve comparing a few prescriptions or designs before landing on the right one.

5. The trial lens gets checked on your eye

Once it's in, the optometrist may give it a little time to settle before assessing it properly.

They may check how clearly you can see, where the lens sits, how it moves when you blink, whether that movement is consistent, how comfortable it feels, whether a toric lens stays stable, and how the surface of your eye is responding. You might be asked to blink, look in different directions, or read letters while wearing the lenses.

6. Your vision may get fine-tuned

The optometrist might adjust the trial prescription once they've tested your vision through the lenses. Toric and multifocal lenses in particular can need extra refinement, since lens position, stability and the balance between your two eyes can all affect the result.

Don't worry if the first trial pair isn't spot-on straight away — a different power or design might work better for you.

Will You Walk Out With Lenses That Day?

Maybe — but it's not guaranteed.

The practice might have a suitable trial lens in stock, or a less common prescription or fitting requirement might need to be ordered in. This is more likely with:

• High prescriptions
• Astigmatism
• Multifocal correction
• Unusual combinations of parameters
• Different requirements between your two eyes
• Custom or specialist lenses

Depending on the practice and how your fitting goes, you might be given trial lenses to wear ahead of a follow-up appointment. You may also need to show you can safely insert and remove them before taking any lenses home. Hold off on buying a large supply until the practice has confirmed the exact brand, model and parameters.

Learning to Put Lenses In and Take Them Out

For a lot of first-timers, handling the lenses is the most nerve-wracking part of the whole appointment.

You'll usually be shown how to:

• Wash and dry your hands properly
• Check whether a soft lens is inside out
• Hold your eyelids safely
• Place the lens on your eye
• Remove it without damaging your eye or the lens
• Avoid using your fingernails
• Clean and store reusable lenses
• Recognise when a lens shouldn't be worn

You may need to practice inserting and removing the lenses yourself before you're allowed to take trials home. Needing a few goes is completely normal — struggling in that first session doesn't mean you'll never get the hang of contacts. Take your time, and don't be afraid to ask staff to repeat or re-demonstrate any step that doesn't click.

What if You Can't Get the Lenses In or Out?

Tell the practice honestly rather than pretending you've got it sorted.

Depending on how they operate, they might give you more time, book another training session, suggest a different handling technique, arrange a later appointment, or hold off on take-home trials until you can remove the lenses safely on your own.

Don't take contacts home unless you're clear on how to remove them, how long you've been told to wear them, whether they can be reused, how reusable lenses need to be cleaned, what to do if they start feeling uncomfortable, and which symptoms mean you should stop wearing them.

What Should New Contacts Actually Feel Like?

You'll probably be aware of a soft lens at first, especially while you're still learning to put it in — but it shouldn't get more painful or irritating over time.

Let the practice know if you notice sharp, scratching or ongoing discomfort, significant watering, increasing redness, vision that won't settle, a lens that keeps shifting, or one eye feeling noticeably worse than the other.

Pain isn't just "part of getting used to it" — don't assume that. Take the lenses out if your eyes get sore, and if things don't improve once they're out, get advice from an optometrist or another qualified healthcare professional.

How Much Does a Contact Lens Fitting Cost?

Fees and what's included vary between Australian practices. It's worth checking whether the quoted price covers the initial eye-health assessment, contact lens measurements, trial lenses, insertion and removal training, follow-up appointments, extra trial products, and confirmation of the final lens specs.

A practice can charge a separate fitting fee even where part of a routine eye exam attracts a Medicare benefit.

Does Medicare Cover the Appointment?

Services Australia currently states that eligible people under 65 can get a bulk-billed eye test every three years, while eligible people over 65 can get one every year — provided the optometrist bulk bills.

Not every optometrist bulk bills, and extra charges may apply. Medicare doesn't cover the cost of the glasses or contact lenses themselves, though your private health fund extras cover may contribute depending on your policy.

Medicare benefits for a contact lens fitting are limited to specific clinical and optical circumstances set out in the Medicare Benefits Schedule. Eligibility can include defined levels of myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, anisometropia, irregular astigmatism, or certain other medical or optical conditions. The benefit generally isn't available just because someone prefers contacts for appearance, sport or work.

If you don't meet the specified criteria, the consultation fee is generally a matter between you and your optometrist. Ask the practice which parts of your appointment might attract a Medicare benefit and which costs are on you.

Can Your Health Fund Help?

Some Australian extras policies put money toward prescription contact lenses. The benefit amount, how you claim it, your annual limit, any preferred-provider arrangements and your eligibility all depend on your insurer and policy.

Before your appointment, check whether contacts are included in your extras cover, how much of your annual optical limit is left, whether any waiting periods apply, whether you'll need an itemised receipt, and whether the benefit applies to the lenses, the fitting, or both. Don't assume a fitting fee is covered just because the lenses themselves attract an optical benefit — our guide to claiming contact lens rebates in Australia walks through how this typically works.

What Happens During the Trial Period?

Stick to the wearing schedule your optometrist gives you.

It's worth keeping notes on how many hours you wore the lenses, comfort when first inserted versus later in the day, your vision at distance and up close, how they performed during screen use, any dryness or grittiness, redness or watering, and whether one lens behaved differently from the other.

Don't stretch the wearing time past what you've been told. Keep the packaging and note exactly which product went in which eye, and bring the lenses and care products to your follow-up if asked.

Why the Follow-Up Appointment Matters

A follow-up lets your optometrist see how the lenses have performed once you've worn them through normal daily life.

They may check your vision in each eye, how the lens sits and moves, comfort after several hours, toric-lens stability, any signs of dryness or irritation, your insertion and removal technique, your cleaning and replacement routine, and whether the prescription needs tweaking.

From there, they might confirm the lens as-is, adjust the power, or trial a different design. Worth asking upfront: is your lens prescription and product confirmed at the first appointment, or only after a trial period or follow-up? Either way, hold off on ordering a big supply until the exact brand, model and parameters are locked in.

Care Rules Every New Wearer Should Know

Always follow the specific instructions for your prescribed lenses. General good habits include:

• Wash and dry your hands before touching your lenses
• Stick to the replacement schedule you've been given
• Never use saliva to wet or clean lenses
• Use the recommended care system for reusable lenses
• Don't top up old solution in the case — always use fresh
• Don't share lenses with anyone
• Take lenses out before sleeping, unless your optometrist has specifically said otherwise for your prescribed lenses
• Don't wear lenses longer than recommended
• Keep an up-to-date pair of glasses on hand
• Ask your optometrist specifically about showering, swimming and other water exposure with your prescribed lenses

When to Take Your Lenses Out and Get Help

Remove your contacts and get prompt professional advice if you notice eye pain, significant or worsening redness, sudden or worsening blurred vision, sensitivity to light, unusual discharge, swelling, or symptoms that stick around after you've taken the lens out.

Contact-lens-related infections can be serious. Don't put the lenses back in until an optometrist, doctor or ophthalmologist says it's safe to do so.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my glasses prescription to buy contact lenses?

No. A glasses prescription doesn't confirm the lens brand, model, fit, base curve, diameter or other contact-lens-specific details. You'll need to complete a proper contact lens fitting and order the exact product prescribed or confirmed for you.

Will I get my final contact lens prescription at the first appointment?

Not necessarily — ask the practice whether it'll be confirmed straight away or only after trial wear or a follow-up. Don't order a big supply until the exact product and parameters are confirmed.

What if the first trial lenses are uncomfortable?

Take them out if you've been told to, and let your optometrist know. A different prescription or design might suit you better — don't switch brands on your own just because the prescription numbers look similar.

Can I buy replacement lenses online afterwards?

Once your fitting is done and the exact lens confirmed, yes — you can order replacements using the prescribed brand, model and parameters. An online retailer can supply your prescribed replacement lenses, but that doesn't replace the initial fitting or ongoing eye-health care.

Can my health fund help with the cost?

Some extras policies offer benefits for prescription contact lenses, though benefits, annual limits, preferred-provider arrangements and eligibility all vary. Check your policy and ask for an itemised receipt.

The Bottom Line

Your first contact lens fitting should establish whether contacts suit your eyes, which prescribed lens gives you the right mix of vision, comfort and fit, and whether you can insert, remove and care for the lenses safely on your own.

Tell the practice you're a first-time wearer when you book. Ask how long the appointment might take, what the fee covers, whether trial lenses are included, whether follow-ups are part of the deal, and when your exact prescription will be confirmed.

Bring your glasses, relevant health details, your Medicare card and your private health insurance information. Go in expecting that the first trial lens might need adjusting or swapping out.

Most importantly, treat the fitting as a process rather than a single purchase. Trial wear, handling practice and follow-up care all help work out whether a particular lens genuinely suits your eyes and your everyday routine.

This article provides general information only. It is not a substitute for personalised advice, diagnosis, contact lens fitting or treatment from an optometrist, ophthalmologist or other qualified healthcare professional.