Contact Lenses for Kids

Parents worry about lots of things when it comes to their children!

Many parents wonder if contact lenses are safe for children.  And what is different when children wear contact lenses?  Here we correct some myths about children and contact lenses so you can take care of your child and his or her eyes.

MYTH: Contact lenses are not safe for children

FACT: The human eye can tolerate contact lenses at a very early age.  In fact, sometimes when severe eye conditions exist in infants, they are fitted with contact lenses.  Safety is not so much a factor with children and contact lenses.  What is more important is that the child is willing and able to properly care for the contact lenses.

MYTH: Care is different for children wearing contact lenses.

FACT: Children need to be responsible enough to follow the same guidelines for cleaning and caring for contact lenses.  The biggest motivator for the child is usually whether he or she wants to wear contact lenses.  It will be best if you let your child decide on eyeglasses or contact lenses, because it will likely lead to better success with either choice.

Based on recent studies, many children do enjoy wearing contact lenses because they feel it improves their physical appearance and ability to compete in sports.

MYTH: Glasses are always better for children.

FACT: This should be determined based on the child and his or her level of responsibility.  Glasses are easier for children to handle and deal with, but if the child is ready then contact lenses also have some advantages over glasses.

If the child is involved in sports, then glasses frames and lenses can break easily.  As mentioned above, children often feel better when wearing contact lenses, so it can help with better self-esteem.

MYTH: Contact lenses can harm a child’s eyes.

FACT: Some proponents of contact lenses for children point out that the contact lenses are reducing the amount of UV rays that reaches the child’s eye, which means a significantly lower lifetime exposure to UV radiation.  High levels of UV radiation has been linked to cataracts and other eye problems later in life.

Hopefully this has helped to clear up the facts about children and contact lenses.  As always, it is important for you to speak with your child’s eye doctor and your child in order to determine what will work best for his or her specific situation.

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