Is It Okay for Kids to Wear Contact Lenses?

Eyeglasses are a reliable option for managing refractive errors like nearsightedness or farsightedness. However, they aren’t right for everyone. Children, in particular, may find them cumbersome or “uncool.” What should you do if your young child asks to wear contact lenses instead? Are contact lenses safe for children?

There are pros and cons to wearing contacts. Factors like the specific activities your child is involved in as well as their hygiene habits and level of responsibility should all be considered when making this decision. For example, if your child plays contact sports, there’s always a risk of breaking their eyeglasses, which is not a problem with contact lenses. 

 

That said, it’s important to remember that contact lenses are medical devices. Like any medical device, contacts should be used responsibly and safely and under the supervision of an optician. To help you evaluate whether contact lenses might be an appropriate option for your child, Downtown Eyes lists a few questions that you should discuss with your child’s eye doctor.

 

What’s the Right Age for Wearing Contact Lenses?

 

There’s not a specific age at which a child is suddenly ready for contact lenses. The biggest consideration is whether your child is mature enough to take responsibility for wearing contact lenses and practicing good hygiene. As mentioned, contact lenses are a medical device; proper use and care must be observed to prevent complications.

 

In general, many kids begin wearing contacts once they reach their teenage years. Some families begin to consider contact lenses for their children when they begin certain sports, since contact lenses are often more convenient for those with active lifestyles. Contacts provide better peripheral vision as well, which is helpful when playing sports.

How Can You Tell if Your Child Is Ready for Contacts?

Offer your child a primer on the responsibilities of wearing contact lenses before seeing a doctor for an eye exam. This way, you can prepare them and enable them to assess their own capacity for properly using and caring for contact lenses. Will they be able to handle and disinfect the contacts? Are they confident about putting on and removing the lenses at appropriate times? Do they have good personal hygiene habits? Why do they want to wear contact lenses in the first place? By asking them these questions and listening carefully to their answers, you can evaluate their maturity level and whether you think they’re ready for contact lenses.

 

Are Disposable Contacts Recommended for Kids?

 

Your doctor may give you the option between daily disposable lenses and planned replacement lenses. Whichever option your doctor recommends, the most important thing is to follow the rules for using those particular contact lenses. Daily disposable lenses are meant to be thrown away after a single use. As such, they’re more expensive and less eco-friendly. On the plus side, they require less upkeep and care, which might make them easier for a child to handle. 

 

Planned lenses, on the other hand, are worn during the day and stored at night. Some planned replacement lenses can be used two weeks, while others can be used for 30 days. You can sign up for automatic refills so that your child won’t run out of lenses and be tempted to over-extend their use of the contacts, which can lead to infection.

Ask your eye care professional regarding the pros and cons of these types of contact lenses so that you can figure out the best choice for your child.

Are Kids at Greater Risk of Complications From Wearing Contacts?

The risk of complications from contact lenses are no greater for kids than for older teens and adults. As long as they practice good hygiene and proper contact lens care, they can avoid complications or infections.

Below are some reminders that you can give your child:

1. Never use tap water or saliva to clean the lenses. Bacteria can be found in drinking water and saliva, so they should only use the contact lens cleaning solution recommended by their doctor.

2. Never sleep or swim with the contacts still in the eyes. This can result in an infection.

3. Make sure to soak the contacts in a cleaning solution in a clean lens case.

4. Change the contact lens case every three months or so. The risk of eye infection increases when the same case is used for six months or longer.

What Will Happen if Proper Contact Lens Hygiene Is Ignored?

Contact lenses can easily pick up bacteria without proper hygiene. When this occurs, the bacteria can permeate the corneal epithelium, which is a skin-like covering found over the cornea. This can later on cause an abrasion or infection or lead to a corneal ulcer, which could be a painful and potentially dangerous condition. Corneal ulcer may also result in vision loss. If your child experiences eye pain or has noticeable redness in the eyes, call your doctor immediately for an eye examination and assessment.

What Safety Precautions Should Be Observed for Kids Who Want to Wear Contact Lenses?

If your child is really intent on wearing contact lenses, they should be able to follow these safety tips:

1. Wash your hands before touching the lenses. When drying your hands, make sure to use a clean, lint-free cloth.

2. Follow your eye care professional’s recommendations on how to clean, rub, rinse, and disinfect your contact lenses.

3. Do not wear your contacts for longer than the prescribed period.

4. Never let other people borrow your lenses or wear someone else’s lenses.

5. Ensure that your contacts are not exposed to any kind of water or saliva.

6. You should still wear safety goggles or glasses over your lenses when playing sports.

7. Do not wear your contacts if your eye is red.

8. Do not ignore eye itching, irritation, burning, or redness. Take off your contacts as soon as possible, and contact your eye doctor.

9. Insert your lenses before applying cosmetics. Remove your lenses before taking off your makeup.

10. Always have a pair of back-up eyeglasses.

Where Should You Buy Contact Lenses?

Ensure that an eye care professional fits your child for lenses. Moreover, purchase contacts only from trusted vendors. It’s okay to get your child’s contact lenses from online vendors and eye care chains as long as there is a fitting and a prescription.

Be careful of buying from corner stores or vendors that do not specialize in eye care, even if you’re only getting cosmetic lenses. Contacts from such shops are not custom-fitted for your eyes, and they may have been manufactured with inadequate regulatory oversight. Make sure to consult with an optometrist for proper lens fitting, as contacts with an improper fit can cause abrasions and ulcerations.

If you have more questions about the benefits and risks of wearing contact lenses, Downtown Eyes is ready to answer them. Rest assured that we will help you make the best decision for your child and provide first-rate eye care for them. Call us at (612) 333-EYES (3937) or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve clients in Minneapolis, MN.