Kids and Contacts – What is the Best Age?
If your child wears glasses, you may have been dealing with them asking if they can get contact lenses. Kids and contacts. This is an important topic many parents encounter. But, how do you know when your child is ready? It depends because there really is no exact answer. Honestly, your child will inadvertently tell you, if you pay close attention.
Statistics: Kids and Contacts
The American Optometric Association conducted studies to determine the best age for kid’s to begin wearing contacts. They polled optometrists all over the country. AOA found that most doctors will only fit kids under 8 years old in glasses. And, consequently, this is where the numbers begin varying.
- 12% think it is proper to introduce 8-9-year-olds to contacts
- 23% of optometrists feel it is appropriate to introduce children to soft contact lenses between the ages of 10 and 12 years old
- 51% feel 13-14 years old is a suitable age for a child to begin wearing contact lenses
- 66% recommend contact lenses as the primary form of vision correction for 15-17-year-olds.
In the end, though, over four million American children under the age of 18 wear contact lenses.
Is My Child Ready?
If you are considering contacts for your child, pay close attention to how your child handles their responsibilities. Consider these three questions.
- Do they have good grooming habits?
- How organized/clean are their bedroom, bathroom, and other personal belongings?
- Does he/or she follow through with schoolwork and household chores?
If your child needs constant reminders and does not follow through on their duties, they may not be ready for the responsibility of wearing and caring for contact lenses. However, if they are on top of things, you might re-consider.
Should My Child Have Contacts?
Children active in sports could benefit from wearing contacts. There are a number of advantages over glasses. Even if they have impact resistant lenses, there is still a worry about the frames breaking during play. Furthermore, sports eyeglasses can fog up during competition and affect vision, therefore performance. As a result, this becomes a matter of safety.
Many kids feel self-conscious wearing glasses. Hence, wearing contacts can improve your child’s confidence. Almost 80% of teenagers say they prefer wearing contacts to wearing glasses. Also, many children who wore contacts, their athletic competence improved and plus they felt more socially acceptable.
Additional Reasons
Finally, we would like to note that children are less likely to experience dry eyes. Therefore, they may find wearing contacts more comfortable, and without issue. Lastly, if at first, they do not succeed, try again! If your child cannot maneuver the contact lenses, take a break and try again at a later date. What’s the bottom line on kids and contacts? It is truly a child by child situation.
Still, have questions about kids and contacts? Contact Looking Glass Optical. Our team can help you sift through all issues and concerns. We can help you make an informed decision.
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