When is Someone Too Young to Wear Contact Lenses?

Your child or teenager may want contacts for a number of reasons. He or she may be tired of wearing glasses, sports may be easier without them or they simply don’t like the look. What’s a good age to start wearing contact lenses? According to Cooper Vision, which makes and sells contact lenses, a review of past research into eye complications in those younger than 18 who wore contact lenses found the risk of eye inflammation and infection is no greater than for adults. For those eight to 11 years, it may be lower. Are-Kids-Too-Young-To-Wear-Contacts.jpg Photo courtesy of CooperVision

Here are some issues to consider when deciding whether contact lenses are right for your son or daughter…

  1. Interest and Motivation

Your child, not you, should drive the issue. Unless there’s a medical need for them (such as slow myopia), wearing contacts should be their idea. Young children normally get used to wearing glasses but as they age they probably want to look better in middle or high school. There could be other benefits as well. Research has shown contact lenses can greatly improve a young person’s self-esteem. The Adolescent and Child Health Initiative to Encourage Vision Empowerment (ACHIEVE)2 study looked at the psychological impact of using contacts on children and young teenagers over a period of three years. Contact lens wearers stated they looked better, were accepted among friends, felt improved athletic ability and increased confidence in academic performance.

  1. Responsibility

How many of us bought or adopted pets after being begged to do so by our kids? They swore they would care for the pet, take care of its daily needs and love it to death. How long did it take for your child to lose interest? Contact lenses also require daily attention. They need to be properly washed, stored, inserted and removed. Unlike taking care of the dog or cat, you can’t take care of your child’s contacts for them. How does your child behave in other parts of their life? Does he or she take responsibility for homework, glasses, and other personal belongings? If so, these are good signs your child is a good candidate for contact lenses. Being mature enough to use contact lenses doesn’t mean being a certain age. There are 13 year-olds who are more mature than some 17 year-olds.

  1. Cleanliness

If a child understands the need for good hygiene when contact lenses are being used, and if they might be taken away if your son or daughter is not being responsible, they may be more motivated to take good care of contacts. Another option, if you think your child can only be trusted to wash his or her hands, daily disposable lenses may be a good idea.

  1. Activities and Lifestyle

Does your child play sports, spend a lot of time outdoors or often lose his or her glasses? Contact lenses can be helpful when playing a sport because they can be used with protective eyewear and sun wear and unlike glasses, you shouldn’t have to worry about them coming loose. If you have questions about your child wearing glasses or contact lenses or feel it’s time for a change to contact lenses, contact us at 610-437-4988 or fill out our contact form so we can start the conversation and work together to protect your child’s sight. Houman Ahdieh, MD Lehigh Valley Center for Sight https://www.lvcenter4sight.com eyedoc@lvcenter4sight.com

https://www.lvcenter4sight.com/when-is-someone-too-young-to-wear-contact-lenses/

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