“When can I get contact lenses?” is a familiar question to many parents. There’s really no hard and fast rule about when a child is ready to wear contacts, says Dr. Neil Henninger, who has worked with hundreds of parents and kids. The average age to begin wearing lenses is usually 12 to 13 years old. However, some kids as young as eight may be responsible enough to try them, while others may not be ready at 16.
Things a doctor looks for when evaluating a child’s readiness include how well they follow the doctor’s instructions during the child’s eye exam and how squeamish the child seems when the doctor is doing tests, like putting drops in the child’s eyes. Indicators that parents can use as a measuring stick include if their child practices good hygiene, such as frequent hand washing without prompting, and if they’re able to manage health routines, like brushing their teeth, independently.
What to expect at the Eye Doctor’s – Once your family has agreed to give contact lenses a try, you should make an appointment with your eye doctor to determine your son or daughter’s prescription and evaluate their eye health. During this, the doctor measures the child’s eyes and discusses the various types of contact lenses available, including daily, weekly or monthly wear soft lenses and gas permeable (hard) contacts.
Next, an optician or contact lens technician conducts an insertion and removal training. Henninger usually recommends that parents sit in the waiting room for this so the child will be more at ease. During this practice session, kids learn how to handle their new lenses without dropping or damaging them and the proper way to hold their eyelid open when inserting the lens.
“Once the lens is in, I’ll take a few minutes to reevaluate their visual acuity and how the lenses are fitting on the child’s eye,” Henninger explains. “Then I send them back to the technician who shows them how to remove each lens and has them practice doing it themselves.” Though Henninger’s young patients return a week later to make sure everything is running smoothly, he encourages families to call the eye doctor’s office if they have any questions before that.
Pros and cons – Shifting to contact lenses can be a plus for kids who are physically active or involved in sports as they may perform better without the distraction of glasses. Some boys and girls also believe that they look better without glasses, so wearing contacts can lead to increased self-confidence. On the negative side, poor hygiene or repeatedly forgetting to change their lenses at the recommended times can lead to frequent eye infections, Henninger warns. Additionally, some kids find it difficult to get their lenses in and out. “If your son or daughter needs you to insert or remove their contacts, then they’re not ready to wear them!” he says emphatically.
Just for parents – If you find yourself pushing contact lenses to a child who really isn’t interested in them, they generally won’t be successful lens wearers. Conversely, Henninger finds that some parents are resistant to contacts based on their own negative experience with them or a fear that they’ll be too expensive. Contact lenses and their solutions usually average about $1 a day, he says. Depending on how often your child needs to replace their eyeglasses, contacts can actually be a more cost-effective option.
Overall, a parent’s role in contact lens wear and care should be confined to checking to make sure that their offspring are changing their lenses when they should and that the kids always have an adequate supply of solution and contacts on hand.
Sue is a freelance writer and a frequent contributor to family magazines. Two of her sons wear contact lenses, while the
third has chosen to stay in glasses. Contact her at www.fingerlakeswriter.com.
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