Can my child wear contacts?

An estimated Four million children, under the age of 18 years old wear contact lenses in the united states. In a recent study of children 8-11 years old, 90% of those children had no problem applying or removing contacts without the assistance of a parent. 51% optometrists agree that contact lenses are appropriate to introduce to children ages 10-12 years.

So if your asking if your child can wear contacts, and your child is between the ages of 8-12 years old then based on the above statistics, the short answer is yes.

One of the biggest factors that I discuss with parents when it comes to this question, is whether or not the child is mature enough. Is the child responsible? Do they regularly take care of their things? Do they have to be reminded to brush their teeth? Do they pick up after themselves? Do they exhibit good hygiene?

Wearing contact lenses requires a certain amount of responsibility, maturity, and overall good hygiene from a child. It’s important to remember that a contact lens is a medical device that is being put into the eye. Abrasions, serious infections, and loss of vision can result if contact lenses are not taken care of and used appropriately.

So your child meets all the above recommendations? What about motivation? Does your child want to wear contacts or do they shutter at the thought of something in their eye? A child who is motivated to wear contacts will be successful with contacts. The process of learning how to apply and remove a lens can be challenging and often a child who is not motivated to wear contacts, easily becomes discouraged and will give up. The process becomes frustrating for all involved. But a child who is motivated is determined to succeed with contact lens wear.

There is a list of benefits for kids who venture into contact lens wear. Soft contacts are a great option for kids who play sports when glasses have the potential to break. Contact lens wear can be a huge confidence boost in a child. A new look coupled with a sense of pride, can lead to a new sense of self and confidence in a child.

Your child does pose some risks just by wearing contacts. The biggest risks involve bacteria infections and some bacteria infections can cause vision loss. I consistently recommend daily disposable contacts to limit the risks associated contact lens wear. A daily disposable allows a child to put a fresh contact lens in the morning and toss at the end of the day. No handling and re-handeling the same lens over and over. Also daily disposable contacts eliminate the need to store the lenses overnight in a case which also can attract bacteria, if not taken care of properly.

Please keep in mind, that not all kids are the best candidates for contact lens wear; sometimes a child’s prescription, nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism limits contact lens wear. There are a lot of different contact lens options available and it’s best to talk to your Eye Doctor to see which is the best fit for your child.

Dr. Jennifer Wademan