Contact Lenses for Children

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Are Contact Lenses Appropriate For Children?

There are several factors to consider if your child expresses interest in wearing contact lenses for correcting refractive error, instead of standard prescription eyeglasses. Age and maturity are crucial when making this consideration.

They are not appropriate for very young children, since they require a level of maturity to properly use and maintain. Even highly responsible younger children may have difficulty attending to the daily care of contact lenses.

Lenses In Children: But Are They Safe?

There are several factors to consider if your child expresses interest in wearing contact lenses for correcting refractive error, instead of standard prescription eyeglasses. Age and maturity are crucial when making this consideration. They are not appropriate for very young children, since they require a level of maturity to properly use and maintain. Even highly responsible younger children may have difficulty attending to the daily care of contact lenses.

Contact Lenses For Children: Things To Consider

Age - Even advanced, intelligent children should not be given contact lenses until they reach a certain age. Some experts suggest that the ideal age range is 8-11, provided the child displays the requisite maturity. The study above documented that it is safe for 8 year olds.

Maturity - Age alone is insufficient if the child is not mature enough. If your child has difficulty with household chores and responsibilities he may not be ready yet. Signs of maturation include: displaying good habits at school and home, attending to homework and household chores. Disposable contact lenses are usually considered a better option for children because they are easier to use, and your child will have a clean, fresh, pair each morning. As a parent, it is your responsibility to determine if your child is ready for the responsibility.

Knowledge - Children need to understand the practical know-how on using and caring for their lenses, including all aspects of sterilizing and storing them, as well as how to put them in and remove them.

Experience With Glasses - Many experts suggest that children first experience wearing regular corrective eyeglasses for a time, before considering the switch.

Health - Failure to properly maintain contact lenses can lead to infections, eye complications, and even eye disease. Children sometimes resort to unsanitary ways of cleaning their lenses, such as washing them with soap and water, using saliva, or even their hands. All of which can lead to serious eye complications and infections. Clinical studies show that a large percentage of ER visits each year involve children and complications from contact lenses. Ask yourself if your child appreciates the health aspects involved in contact lenses.

Allergies - Children with allergies aren't good candidates, due to swelling, irritation, and redness of the eyes.

Pros and Cons of Contact Lenses

Benefits of Contact Lenses

Despite the added responsibility of contact lenses, there are many advantages to wearing them, which make them a good option for children of requisite age and maturity:

Pros :

They don't break during activity, and they can be ideal for active children and those who play sports.
They might be a good choice for children who might be insecure or unhappy with the prospect of having to wear glasses
In some instances, they provide superior vision to regular glasses.
There are also instances when lenses have been known to slow the development of myopia in children (nearsightedness).

Cons :

Requires maturity and a commitment to the overall responsibility of owning such lenses
Some children will have difficulty inserting and removing them
Detecting evidence of macular degeneration such as glaucoma and other degenerative disorders, and initiating treatment or therapy

The Contact Lens Eye Exam

Explain the processes to your child:

Schedule a comprehensive contact lens eye exam
A: The optometrist will first give a comprehensive eye exam to assess visual acuity and overall eye health. Sometimes a prescription will differ from your prescription for glasses. Other tests include assessing to see if your child produces sufficient tears to keep the lenses moist. B: Contact Lens Fitting: During the fitting, the optometrist will measure the iris and pupils, and the corneal curvature to assure a proper fit. During the fitting, you will discuss what kind of lenses are most appropriate for your child based upon his examination and your child's individual needs. There are many options to choose from such as deciding upon hard or soft contact lenses, and disposable lenses versus extensive wear lenses, etc. Many doctors discourage overnight wear and recommend soft disposable lenses for children.
The optometrist will instruct your child on the basic rules for wearing and maintaining contact lenses. This includes learning how to safely put them in your eyes and how to remove them, as well as the process of sterilizing and storing them.
Lens Kit: When the lenses are ready your child will go home with his lens kit (case) and any eye care supplies such as eye drops and contact lens solutions.

Monitoring Your Child's Eye Health:

Signs and Symptoms That Require Attention

Make sure to monitor your child for any signs or symptoms that might be indications of infection or ocular disorder secondary to wearing contact lenses. These include:

Corneal abrasions
CLARE: An acronym for a type of eye redness associated with lenses: Contact Lens Induced Red Eyes
Dry eyes, swelling, discharge, or crustiness
Squinting, complaints of funny or impaired vision
Pain or discomfort

Treatment

Remove them right away and notify your eye doctor if the symptoms persist.

Serious Eye Complications

Although uncommon, failure to properly use contact lenses can lead to serious eye infections or ocular disorders. These include:

Corneal ulceration: Microbial keratitis is a rare but serious condition that can quickly degenerate, leading to corneal erosion
Giant papillary conjunctivitis: This infection manifests as bumps under the eyelid

Additional Information

Several Types of Systems: There are two popular systems for contact lenses: Hydrogen peroxide-based solutions and multipurpose care systems, which require one or two-step processes for maintenance. Make sure that your child understands all aspects of maintenance for his particular type of lens.
Consider the reasons your child may want contact lenses. Do they truly want contacts, or are other factors involved? Perhaps your daughter is insecure about how she will look or is afraid that people will make fun of her? Speak with your child in order to understand her motivation which will also address the important factors involving self-esteem and self-worth, and any current stressors.
Many experts maintain that overnight wear lenses are not ideal for children and that disposable soft contact lenses are preferable. Additionally, the maintenance requirements of disposable lenses are far less than standard lenses. Studies have shown that there is a risk factor for microbial keratitis, a corneal infection, among those who use overnight soft lenses.

Common Questions

What Is The Best Type Of Lens For My Child?

There are many variables involved, but many optometrists recommend disposable soft lenses for children since they require less maintenance, are safer for children, and are usually considered more comfortable than hard lenses.

Are There Any Good Tips For Avoiding Eye Infections With Contact Lenses?

Overall maintenance of lenses is important, including making sure that your child feels comfortable with the process of putting the contact lenses in and removing them. Stress the importance of following the optometrist's instructions. Remind your child to always wash his hands thoroughly before touching the lenses or the eye region, and making sure that fingernails are kept at a normal length to prevent injury. Finally, the basic ABC's of maintenance for his specific brand of contacts is critical for non-disposables. This includes sterilizing and storing them properly in their case.

Can My Younger Child Wear Contact Lenses?

The age that a child can wear contact lenses should be determined based on the need and maturity level. Contacts have been worn even by very young children when the need is presented. Young children can have many benefits from contact lenses including reduced risk of eye injury, improved self perception, improved vision, reduction of myopia progression, and more. Studies on 8-12 year olds showed that the vast majority of kids at that age preferred contacts and were able to care for their contacts (in many cases even better than teens). For children younger than 8 that wear contact lenses it is recommended that the parents are more involved with supervision until they demonstrate consistency in keeping with the required guidelines. By the time your child is 8, assuming they are at a certain level of maturity, you can usually expect him or her to be able to maintain proper hygiene and care and do everything on their own.

Should I Get Contact Lenses for My Child?

If your child is old enough and displays the responsibility for using and maintaining them he may be a candidate for contact lenses. Many reputable clinical studies have shown that contact lenses are safe for children. There is even evidence that it can slow the progression of myopia. Speak with your child to make sure that he understands the necessity of all aspects of content lens maintenance. Additionally, he will need to report any signs or symptoms of pain, discomfort, or irritation. Patients who need medically necessary contact lenses, myopia management, or have difficulties wearing contact lenses visit our clinic from all over STATE, and we are proud to be a leading provider of contact lens services for patients from CITY, SECONDARY1, SECONDARY2, and SECONDARY3.

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