For nearsighted and farsighted kids, as well as those with astigmatism, getting glasses can revolutionize the way they see the world — but there's no doubt that spectacles can also get in the way, both physically and socially. Whether your child is an active athlete, reaching that age at which they're really starting to care about the way they look, or facing bullies who are targeting them for their glasses, they may be asking when they can start wearing contact lenses.
When can your child start wearing contact lenses?
Research about user experience and satisfaction with contact lenses, conducted among adult newcomers to lenses, reveals that getting started with contacts can be quite scary. Adults who are interested in wearing lenses often report that they are worried about their ability to take care of the lenses properly, and the process of adjusting to lenses has even been described as an "emotional roller coaster of highs and lows". The question of "how do I decide if contact lenses are right for me?" is tricky for potential lens wearers of all ages.
When you hear things like that, you may quickly jump to the conclusion that there has to be a medical and scientific consensus about the minimum age for contact lens wearers. This is, actually, not the case. The Centers for Disease Control hold that "children can safely and successfully wear contact lenses if they care for them properly,", while the American Academy of Pediatrics takes the stance that "there is no minimum age to wear contact lenses".
These medical organizations know that children each develop in unique ways, and that their ability to care for contact lenses and wear them responsibly does not only depend on their age. That does not mean that a toddler who just got their first pair of glasses will be able to wear lenses, of course, but one comment from the American Academy of Ophthalmology makes it quite clear that the time may come a little sooner than you probably expected as a parent. For a "myopic 10-year-old hockey player, contact lenses can solve the problem of eyeglasses that fog up during the game", the AAO says.
What are the benefits of contact lenses for children?
Properly-prescribed and well-fitting glasses are wonderful. They allow people with poor vision a window into the world that they wouldn't otherwise have, quite literally making everything clearer. Glasses also, however, pose unique issues in children. They physically get in the way, which can be dangerous during athletic activities or while roughhousing with friends. Glasses can fog up or get wet when it's rainy or the child is swimming. Glasses can feel uncomfortable, and some children with sensory issues may tolerate lenses better. Glasses also remain a social threat in some cases. Today, we know that the teasing or even outright bullying that can result from being different in any way, including by wearing glasses, can have a large negative impact on a child's self-esteem. In turn, even their academic performance can be affected.
Kids wearing lenses: What are the risks?
Just as there are benefits, there are risks as well. That is true for wearer's of any age, but children, who are still developing, may fail to fully grasp the possible consequences of wearing lenses too long or not cleaning them properly. Many of these risks can be mitigated when parents or other carers keep a watchful eye on the child's attitude toward their contact lenses, but the risks can never completely be eliminated.
Eye irritation and inflammation, bacterial infection, and more serious complications like corneal ulcers, can cause temporary scares and great discomfort as well as, in the most serious of cases, permanent eye damage and even blindness.
So — what conditions indicate that your child may be ready to wear lenses?
Generally, prerequisites that indicate that your particular child may be able to look after their contact lenses, and their eyes, in a responsible manner include:
- Your child has a proven track record of being responsible when it comes to their own safety and the safety of others. Look at your child's attitudes toward road safety, pet care, following instructions in sports activities, and (in more recent times) correctly wearing a face mask and washing their hands properly when required, for instance. Your child will need to wash their hands before applying and removing their lenses, make sure to always use lens fluid, clean the case, and remember to take the lenses out at the appropriate time, after all.
- Your child understands what can happen to their eyes if they fail to care for their lenses properly.
- Your child has the physical dexterity to correctly apply and remove contact lenses.
Finally, and also very importantly, your child's eye doctor agrees that the child's visual problems are of such a nature that they can be corrected with contact lenses, and also concurs that the child is a candidate for trying lenses. Once these conditions are met, the ophthalmologist will go through the process of teaching your child how to use their lenses, and try them out in the safe environment of the optician's office.
Daily disposable lenses, which require less meticulous care than long-term options, are the ideal starter lenses. Once the child masters these, they can move onto monthlies or other recommended lenses. You may also make an agreement with your child to only wear lenses for sports or at school, and to give their eyes a break by wearing glasses while at home.
This is, of course, a decision you will have to make together with your child. In the beginning, and even later on, it is absolutely a good idea to ask your child about lens care and remind them of all the important steps.