How to Know if Your Child is Ready for Contact Lenses

Contact lenses can be a great alternative to glasses for common childhood eye problems like myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism (shape changes to the front of the eye). Sports, mask wearing, and other activities can make wearing glasses challenging so contact lenses provide another method of vision improvement.

Children as young as 8 years can be successful contact lens wearers. Most kids start wearing them between ages 8 and 12. Research has shown that contact lenses can improve a child’s self-esteem and overall happiness. With proper hygiene and lens care, contact lenses use in children is just as safe as adult wear.

Contact lenses are a medical device and require a prescription so you cannot wear them without a proper contact lens examination by an eye doctor. Contact lens prescriptions are written for a specific style, brand, shape, and size in order to make sure they fit the eye well and are safe and comfortable. Contact lenses that can be purchased online or over-the-counter without a prescription are not safe and not recommended. They can lead to eye infections and even vision loss.

If your child is interested in contact lenses it is important to make sure they are ready.

Here are some ways to see if your child is ready for contact lenses:

• How are they with their personal hygiene? A child who needs many reminders about hand washing, teeth brushing, or nail trimming may not be ready
• Do they take care of their glasses? Frequently losing or breaking their glasses can be a sign that they are not quite mature enough for contact lenses.
• Are they motivated? If your child asks for contact lenses and is eager to try them, this is a great sign of a good sense of responsibility and that they will take ownership of contact lens wear.
• Do they wear glasses all of the time? If you child only wears glasses for certain tasks at varying times this would make wearing contact lenses difficult.
• Do they have good fine motor control? Inserting, removing, and cleaning contact lenses requires good hand-eye coordination and lots of patience while you are learning.
• Is your child squeamish or nervous about doctor’s appointments? A contact lenses wearer needs to be able to touch their own eye for insertion and removal purposes.

What to Expect at a Contact Lens Examination:

• A complete, dilated eye examination is needed to determine a glasses prescription and ensure good eye health
• Pictures of the eyes are taken to determine curvature and shape
• Contact lenses are selected by the eye doctor to maximize vision, comfort, and fit
• Training is done to teach insertion, removal, cleaning, and care

Daily replacement, single-use contact lenses are the most safe and healthy option for children. Be sure and ask your eye doctor if this is an option for your child’s eyes and glasses prescription.

Contact lenses are an excellent way to improve vision in children. When the rules of care and hygiene are followed, lenses can be worn safely and for a long time. Ensuring readiness is the key to success.

The Ophthalmology Department at Nationwide Children’s Hospital offers routine primary and secondary care and clinical testing for children with visual impairment.