What Age Can You Wear Contact Lenses?

It takes more than simply wearing glasses for example, to wear and maintain lenses in a manner that supports your eyes and vision at it’s best. But at what age can someone begin wearing contact lenses? Here we also discuss the advice and things to remember when wearing contacts for the first time.

Can Children Wear Contact Lenses?

Taking care of one or more children while also caring for yourself is challenging. Parents frequently stress over whether their children are prepared for these newer and more significant tasks as they begin to develop into teenagers and young adults. What age is ideal for contacts is one query we get asked frequently.

As you may expect, there is no definite answer. Depending on the child, even very young children are physically capable of wearing contacts - as long as they are mature enough to manage the responsibilities of good eye care. Some infants can begin using contact lenses in infancy as a part of a treatment regimen or process for correcting their vision. Many elementary and middle school students can do this without any issues, but some still need to stick to glasses for a while longer.

In a recent study, 90% of children between the ages of eight and eleven could wear daily disposable contact lenses with minimal to no difficulty. Although many parents will only think about giving their kids contact lenses once they're teenagers, it's obvious that younger kids may learn good hygiene and contact lens usage.

If you're considering getting your kid contact lenses, discuss with their optician how they manage other tasks. Do they require frequent learning reminders, such as washing their hands, checking the cleanliness of their contact cases, thoroughly cleaning the contact lenses using the right liquid? If so, your youngster may require additional time before learning how to handle contacts.

Your child might be prepared to try if you believe they are old enough to do basic self-care duties, including remembering to wash their hands, and will practice gently placing lenses in and removing them.

When to Wear Contact Lenses?

Many people use contact lenses for cosmetic as well as functional reasons. While some people like wearing glasses make a fashion statement, others like how they look without them. Contact lenses are the sole alternative for young kids or teenagers who won't wear their glasses.

Children have a stronger immune system than adults, experience contact lens issues less frequently, and typically recover more quickly. Additionally, kids who prefer contacts to glasses are often more willing to modify their schedules and adhere to care instructions.

Pros and Cons of Wearing Contact Lenses at a Young Age

Although contacts can have benefits over a standard pair of glasses, parents do not always think of them as a possibility for kids. Children can wear lenses as long as parents ensure they can utilise them properly.

Children who wear contacts run the same hazards as patients of any age. With the right precautions, these dangers can be reduced. While contacts are a secure option and may be ideal for certain kids, there are situations where glasses are preferred.

Let’s explore the benefits and drawbacks of wearing contact lenses at a young age in this section:

Benefits of Wearing Contact Lenses for Children

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), youngsters can wear contacts without risk as long as adults show them how to use and take care of them properly. When deciding whether or not to obtain their child's lenses, parents should consider their child's maturity, age, and cleanliness.

According to studies, using contact lenses rather than spectacles may help children's myopia (nearsightedness) develop more slowly.

It could be ideal for kids who play sports to use contacts. Contact lenses are stable and don't fog up, unlike eyeglasses, which can fall and perhaps hurt someone.

Contact lenses may help children feel more confident in themselves because they frequently feel self-conscious about wearing glasses.

Drawbacks of Wearing Contact Lenses for Children

When using contacts, everyone—children, teenagers, and adults—risk some potential hazards. These include:

•         Infections of the cornea, such as keratitis. The transparent portion of the eye, which covers the colored area, is impacted by this.
•         Allergy symptoms.
•         Corneal scratches, also known as corneal abrasions.
•         Corneal irritation could be a sign of an infection.
•         Papillary giant conjunctivitis.
•         Acute red eyes brought on by contact lenses are referred to as CLARE. When they grow in the cornea, these blood vessels have the potential to result in bloodshot eyes.

Key Takeaway

Contact lenses are excellent for children doing sports and also fantastic for boosting self-esteem. Contact lenses are not a perfect replacement for activities that call for protective eyewear. But, some recreational contact lenses can offer sharper vision than eyeglasses. Contact lenses provide superior peripheral vision than spectacles, which may enhance your child's performance in sports.

When deciding whether a child is ready for contact lenses, it's crucial to have an open conversation. It's also vital to remember that switching from glasses to contacts doesn't have to be a permanent change.

It is fine to suggest glasses as an option for vision correction if a youngster struggles to adjust or cannot manage the increased responsibility of wearing and caring for their contacts. When the youngster is older, contact lenses may always be used again.