When it comes to deciding what age is right for kids to start wearing contact lenses, there is no one right answer. If you ask the kids, they’ll say they are old enough now, no matter how old they are. And depending on the maturity level of the child, many eye doctors may be inclined to agree that children as young as 8 years old may be ready for the responsibility of wearing contact lenses.
Typically, nearsightedness (able to see near objects, but not those farther away) begins to show up between the ages of 8 and 16. Many parents who experienced nearsightedness will remember that getting contacts at such an early age was not an option. Contacts were not considered healthy or appropriate for children before their teens, and for many, contacts were a rite of passage at or near the end of high school.
But advances in contact lens design combined with research involving children as young as 8 years old is now leading many eye care professionals to prescribe contact lenses for younger patients.
Is Your Child Ready for Contact Lenses?
There are several things to consider when deciding whether your child is ready for contact lenses:
• Maturity – only the parents can truly assess the maturity level of their own children. Some 10 year olds are more mature than some 15 year olds. Ask yourself whether your child is willing to take responsibility for cleaning and handling contact lenses, based on how responsible he or she is in other areas.
• Motivation –for children and teens, fitting in with peers is a key motivating factor. Studies show that children’s perceptions of themselves, including appearance and how well they fit with their peers, was higher wearing contact lenses than it was wearing glasses. This is true even for children who initially stated they didn’t mind wearing their glasses.
• Abilities – consider where your child’s talents lie and what activities he or she enjoys doing. Contacts may provide the best combination of clear vision and safety for children playing sports since safety goggles and helmets fit more comfortably over contacts than they do over glasses. In addition, contacts also provide better peripheral (side) vision which will allow for better performance.
• Hygiene – good hygiene, especially hand washing, is critical in taking care of contact lenses. Studies show that children and teens are often more faithful than adults in following good hygiene practices. Daily disposable lenses can greatly simplify the process of caring for lenses since a new pair is worn every day. And before you think the cost will be prohibitive, check with your eye doctor. Some daily disposables cost just $1 per day.
Eye Health with Contacts
Thinking back to the days of hard contact lenses, parents may remember that there were issues with eye health since hard lenses did not allow oxygen to pass through. The good news is that the old days of hard lenses are gone. Lenses today are either soft or Gas Permeable (GP).
• Soft lenses have the advantage of added comfort since they are made of a soft, gel-like plastic, but they must be replaced more often.
• Gas Permeable lenses are made of rigid, breathable plastic that allows oxygen to pass through the lens to the tissue of the eye. GP lenses are long-lasting, comfortable, and easy to clean.
Your eye doctor will need to do a complete examination to determine which type of lenses would be better for your child. And whether you ultimately decide contacts are right for your child or not, it’s important for all children to have regular eye examinations, beyond the basic eye chart test they receive at school. Make it a regular part of your child’s annual health care to get regular eye exams from a qualified eye care professional.
Sources:
All About Vision Contact Lens Q & A
What Parents Need to Know About Contacts
e! Science News
Ohio State University Research
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care