Transitioning from eyeglasses to contact lenses is a rite of passage that many children look forward to as they inch toward their teenage years. However, as a parent and despite your child’s persistence, might
wonder if he or she is ready to have contacts. Here are a few points to consider with your child before making the switch to contacts.
Is Your Child Ready for the Responsibility of Contacts?
There is no age limitation for when to start using contacts, but the recommended age is around 11-14 years. But what matters most is whether your teen is ready for the responsibility of caring for their lenses. This is a discussion to have with your child and should include the input of their eye doctor, too.
Importance of Cleaning Lenses
Your teen needs to understand the importance of cleaning their contact lenses. If their lenses are not properly cleaned as recommended, proteins from their tears can build up on them. This can cause their eyes to be itchy, blur their vision, and possibly cause a serious eye infection. Wearing the lenses longer than recommended can also cause damage to their eyes because of oxygen deprivation.
Understanding the Downside of Contacts
Your teen is likely to be ready to present you with all the positives of them making the switch to contact lenses. However, it is important for them to understand the potential downsides they might experience. The lenses can be easily damaged. Once they are ripped, they can no longer be worn. Doing so puts your teen at risk of corneal abrasions, which are very painful.
Whether your child is ready for contact lenses is up to you and your child’s eye doctor. It might be possible that your child’s prescription is not compatible to wearing lenses or they just are not ready to move up to contacts. While they might not be ready at this time, they could be in the future and this is something they can work towards.
If you think your teen is ready for contact lenses, the next step is to make an appointment with their eye doctor. Contact Valley Eyecare Center at (602) 955-2700 to schedule your teen’s eye exam to discuss making the switch to contact lenses.
