“But I don’t want to wear glasses!”
If you’re a parent whose child needs corrective lenses, you may have heard this before. You might even hear it every day when you remind your child to put on their glasses!
Fortunately, over time, many children get used to their glasses and even grow to like them. (Helping them choose a fun frame can help!) But if your child doesn’t adapt well to glasses, they may ask for contact lenses.
So, can kids wear prescription contact lenses? And at what age can they start wearing contacts? Let’s get into it.
Children Can Wear Contact Lenses
In general, yes, children can wear contact lenses. There is no minimum age requirement, but eye doctors typically begin fitting kids for contacts between eight and 12 years old.
You’ll want to make sure your child can take care of their contacts and handle them properly. You may want to ask yourself if your child is generally responsible. Do they remember to do chores and use good hygiene? If so, they can probably handle using contact lenses.
Younger children may need a parent to remind them and stay on top of contact lens care.
Why Should You Consider Contact Lenses for Kids?
For some children, wearing contact lenses is about more than just aesthetics. Kids who play sports or engage in outdoor activities may find that eyeglasses get in the way, slide off due to sweat, or cause other difficulties. In these cases, contact lenses can improve their quality of life. They may also reduce the risk of broken glasses or injury from not seeing clearly.
Are There Risks for Children Wearing Contact Lenses?
When used correctly, contact lenses are typically very safe. However, there are always some risks at any age, such as eye infections. Good hygiene and the ability to carefully follow directions can reduce these risks.
Here are some safety tips you should communicate clearly to your child before they begin using contact lenses:
- Always wash and dry hands before handling contact lenses.
- Follow the instructions that come with the lenses for cleaning and storage.
- Use only the products your eye care professional recommends for cleaning and storing.
- Replace your contact lens case every three months.
- Never share lenses with other people, no matter how much you want to try your friend’s colored contact lenses.
- If you wear contacts while playing sports, use safety goggles or other protective equipment to avoid damaging the lenses and your eyes!
- If you wear makeup, apply it after inserting your lenses and wash it off before removing them.
- If you have itching, burning, or redness in your eyes, contact your eye doctor immediately and stop using your contacts in the meantime.
What if Your Child Wants Contacts, But Can’t Handle the Maintenance?
We’ve all been there. It’s late, we’re tired, and cleaning our lenses seems like a hassle… but we do it anyway because we understand the risks.
Now, imagine this scenario with a child. Sometimes children just aren’t mature enough to do the necessary steps of cleaning and storing lenses properly. You could help them, but then that becomes another chore for you to do.
In this case, daily disposable lenses may be a better solution. There are many daily contacts available at a variety of price points. Check out this overview of daily disposable contact lens options to learn more. With these lenses, the child wears the lenses for a day, throws them out before bed, and puts on a fresh pair the next morning.
It’s still important to ensure they wash their hands and use caution when inserting and removing the lenses. However, there is less work for everyone and less risk of infection from dirty lenses.
Can Contact Lenses for Children Slow the Progression of Vision Loss?
In some situations, yes. If your child has myopia (nearsightedness), it may progress as they grow and their eyes change shape. Certain contact lenses called MiSight have been shown to slow the progression of childhood myopia when used by kids between the ages of eight and 12.
Multifocal or “center distance” contact lenses, Essilor Stellest eyeglasses, and atropine eye drops are also sometimes used to slow the progression of myopia. Your eye doctor can advise you on whether any of these is a good option for your child.
Even with treatments to reduce the progression of myopia, your child will still need regular eye exams to ensure they are wearing the right lens prescription. Children’s eyes change quickly as they grow. If they outgrow their prescription, they could have blurred vision, headaches, and other difficulties.
Kids and teens love experimenting with their looks. In recent years, contact lenses that change the appearance of the eyes have become more popular with these age groups. Some kids just want to try a new eye color, but others want a specific look for a Halloween costume or special occasion.
Unfortunately, this sometimes leads to buying specialized contacts from unauthorized dealers without a prescription. In these situations, lenses are often poorly fitting, which can lead to irritation, infections, or even corneal ulcers.
The solution is to ensure that your child sees an eye doctor and receives a prescription from a reputable brand that fits their eyes. This guide on colored contacts discusses two brands to try.
Then, make sure to order your child’s colored contact lenses from a reliable retailer, such as EZContacts. At EZContacts, you’ll find a range of colored contact lens options from top brands.
