Is Your Child Old Enough For Contact Lenses?

Do you remember how old you were when you learned to drive? How about when you got your first cell phone?

Many of us hit these milestones at different ages as we were growing up, but when it comes to contact lenses, how old is “old enough?”

So What Is The Right Age For Contact Lenses?

To answer this question simply, there isn’t a precise age when children are recommended to start wearing contact lenses. Some start as early as eight years old while others wait until later in their teens. In fact, some infants are even fitted with contact lenses to correct congenital cataracts or other eye problems present at birth. Your child’s maturity level is far more important when making this decision than age alone.

Responsible Children Are More Prepared For Contacts

When your child begins to express an interest in contact lenses, think about how they handle their other responsibilities when making your decision. For instance:

• Do they have good personal hygiene and grooming habits?
• Do they keep their room clean?
• Do they follow through with household chores and complete homework on time?

If so, they are likely good candidates for contact lenses! Children who often need reminders to keep things clean and follow good hygiene practices may not be ready for the responsibility of wearing and caring for contact lenses.

Contact Lenses Provide Kids With Many Benefits

Aside from no longer needing to worry about childhood mishaps like lost or broken glasses, contact lenses offer many benefits.
 

They offer better optics.

This is especially true of gas permeable lenses, which allow clearer vision than traditional glasses lenses tend to offer.
 

They are good for sports.

Not only do contact lenses eliminate the fear of breaking your glasses playing sports, but they reduce the risk of injury due to broken frames and shattered lenses. They provide better peripheral vision too which can improve performance on the field.
 

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They can improve a child’s self-esteem.

Many children don’t enjoy the way they look in glasses. Some feel unattractive or simply just different from their peers at school. Wearing contact lenses can improve their personal perception of their appearance and boost their self-esteem. This can lead to better grades and even better friendships.

We Love Helping Our Patients At All Ages

Growing up brings plenty of choices and opportunities and we’re with you every step of the way. If your child is beginning to show an interest in contact lenses, come in and talk with us! We can help you determine if your child is a good candidate and when would be the best time for them to switch to take this step.
 

Thank you for your placing your trust in our practice!

Top image by Flickr user Jenn Durfey used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.
 

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.