Is your child ready to wear contact lenses?
To Fit Or Not To Fit?
Most parents do not know that the option for contact lenses is available to their child as young as 8 years old. In some cases younger children, even babies (usually to correct for other eye related problems), have been fit with contact lenses. Many parents ask, “What age should my child start to wear contact lenses?” Our answer is when your child is mature enough to handle the responsibility of contact lenses. You will know if your child is mature enough for contact lenses by observing everyday activities. Does your child do chores without being asked? Does your child practice a daily hygiene regiment on their own? Does your child follow through with school and other activities?
Benefits of Wearing Contact Lenses
When your child is wearing contact lenses as opposed to eye glasses things that were once impossible become possible. Physical activities such as sports, dancing and even swimming are now possible. Studies show that children who are fit with contact lenses after wearing eyeglasses for some time show improved confidence and self-esteem in school and with everyday life.
Eyeglasses can be very costly, for some children you may need to replace their eyeglasses multiple times in a year. Most eyeglass replacements are due to the child misplacing their glasses, but they may also break the frame or the lenses can get scratched. With contact lenses your child will be able to open up another pair and start over if they rip or lose a lens.
Contact lenses can be more comfortable than eyeglasses. While wearing eyeglasses you have to constantly adjust them on your face. Eyeglasses may feel heavy or hurt behind your ears. With contact lenses your child will just put them in and go on with their day without any adjusting.
Disadvantages of wearing contact lenses
With anyone who wears contact lenses there is always the risk of infection due to the misuse of contact lenses. If your child is not responsible or not mature enough for contact lenses they may develop an eye infection. An eye infection due to contact lenses may occur in your child if they forget to take out the lenses and fall asleep. Also if your child does not thoroughly disinfect their lenses every day, and practice a healthy cleaning regiment for contact lenses, they may develop an eye infection. The most common complaint we have with young people who are wearing contact lenses is that they don’t like the hassle of having to clean and maintain their contact lenses every day. A good alternative to everyday cleaning and a healthy approach on children wearing contact lenses would be the daily disposable contact lens.
Daily Disposable Contact Lenses
Although some would say daily disposable contact lenses may not help in teaching responsibility to your child, there is still a great deal of responsibilities that come along with wearing any type of contact lens. Daily Disposable contact lenses are good for children who may not be as enthused as we would like them to be about cleaning their lenses on a daily basis. Daily disposable lenses offer your child the freedom to put the lenses on in the morning and throw them away before bed. With the lack of a cleaning regiment your child will be less likely to develop eye irritations and infections due to contact lenses. The price for a Daily disposable contact lens as opposed to a conventional contact lens may seem higher at first, but after you factor in the cost of contact lens solution for the year the daily disposable contact lens seems to be the better chose. Also if your child loses or rips a contact lens they can be easily replaced.
The Pros and Cons of contact lens use in children and teens
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Improved vision | Risk of infection |
| Stable during physical activities | Hassle to handle |
| Sports | Hassle to clean and Maintain |
| Dance | Discomfort and Irritation |
| More comfortable than glasses | Wasteful |
| Less likely to break, scratch or misplace | Cost: expensive |
| Increased self-esteem and confidence | May Sleep in or forget to take out lenses |
| Improved appearance | May Sleep in or forget to take out lenses |
The Pros and Cons of Daily Disposable Contact Lens use in Children and Teens
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| No cleaning necessary | May not teach responsibility |
| Less risk of infection | Perceived higher cost |
| Less worry about losing costly lens | Environmental concerns |
| Eliminates need for contact lens solution | |
| Use only for special occasions |
Your Child is Ready
Once your child is ready to be fit with contact lenses, the staff at Family Vision Center will go over all of the insertion and removal techniques to insure that your child has the knowledge necessary to keep their eyes healthy and their contact lenses clean.
Recommended Contact Lenses for your child/ Teen:
1 Day Acuvue , 1 Day Acuvue Moist , Proclear 1 Day , Soflens Daily Disposable
For more information about these lenses click on the lens of your choice.