<p>I made a ‘late’ appointment today for the Optometrist and noticed in my packet that if you wear RGP (hard) contact lenses, they must be removed 21 days prior to the examination. However, when I called the doctor, the receptionist told me that I only had to remove them 3 days prior, regardless of it being soft or hard contact lenses. Which one should I believe? Because my scheduled date is less than 21 days away from the day I started wearing glasses.</p>
<p>The requirement is a DODMERB requirement for RGP contacts. It is more rare today than in prior years for people to wear 'hard' contacts; however, if you are in this type of contact you should follow the DODMERB guidance and have them out for 21 days. The receptionist likely has no idea what the DODMERB requirements are and is simply going by the practices guidelines for eye exams. </p>
<p>The reason they want 21 days for 'hard' lenses is that they can actually cause the cornea of the eye to have a different shape while in and the shape will be retained for a bit after the lenses are removed. By having them out for the required time your eyes will be in their "natural" state and allow for a correct exam.</p>
<p>If for some reason there is not 21 days between your lenses being removed and it somehow gets marked on the papers going to DODMERB you would be required to repeat the exam again further delaying your possible acceptance.</p>
<p>I don't know when the deadline is, but I wouldn't wait. As you might've noticed from all these posts, dodmerb is a pain, remedials are a pain, and the sooner you get it done, the better. It's already November-get on it! ;)</p>
<p>teehee I was left alone in the room for like twenty min and sat there memorizing all the different eye charts in the room ;) unfortunately the doctor just brought in the stuff he was using so all that memorization went to no use but hey, I still have 20-10 vision :D kinda reminds me of the movie Space Cowboys...LOL</p>
<p>I was going to say...The ol' doc said that 2010 was REALLY good...wow scared me for a second there! :p And yes, as far as i can tell, it IS an encyclopedia in there ;)</p>