For children who wear glasses, switching to contact lenses is often considered a rite of passage as they become teens. However, it is now possible to make the switch sooner, and this is something that some kids could actually benefit from.
Is Your Child Ready for Contacts?
According to many eye doctors, it is appropriate to introduce children between the ages of 10 and 12 years old to soft contact lenses. However, a recent study found that 90 percent of its participants, nearsighted children between the ages of 8 to 11 years old were able to apply and remove one-day disposable lenses without help. Determining whether your child is ready for contact lenses comes down to their maturity level.
Consider these maturity factors:
- Does your child have good grooming habits?
- Does she or he keep their bedroom and belongings clean?
- Do you need to constantly remind your child to do their homework and chores?
- Can your child follow the directions for using contacts?
Advantages of Contact Lenses for Children
While there are plenty of cool-looking frames, there are still a lot of children who do not wear their eyeglasses as they should. Being allowed to wear contacts can lead to better compliance with vision prescriptions.
Most lenses provide better optics than eyeglasses, including improved peripheral vision and crisper vision. This can be an advantage if your child participates in sports. Contacts won’t fog up either during activities that can impair vision.
There is also the safety aspect of wearing lenses instead of eyeglasses, even those with impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses. Frames can still break during contact sports or if they are hit by balls or sports equipment. Contacts can help reduce the risk of eye injuries while participating in sports.
Ultimately, it is your decision as to whether your child is ready for contacts. If you think your child is ready to wear contact lenses, the next step is to schedule an appointment with one of our Valley Eyecare Center doctors. Give us a call at (602) 955-2700 or conveniently book your appointment online.
