An increasing number of children are choosing to wear contact lenses over glasses for everyday wear. It is not uncommon for children to want the option of wearing contact lenses once they reach secondary school, with most patients opting to book fittings between the ages of 11 and 15.
This is not to say that younger children can’t choose contact lenses if they feel ready, as this largely depends on various factors such as the maturity level of the individual child and the strength of their prescription. For example, children as young as 6 can be fitted with specialist myopia control contact lenses in order to slow the rate of progression once they reach adulthood.
As an established community optician, we are experts in providing eyecare to children of all ages. We hope to answer some of the common questions we get from children and their parents about contact lenses for kids.
Why would a child need contact lenses?
A contact lens does exactly what glasses do, in that it corrects eye conditions allowing the wearer to see clearly and more comfortably.
Common vision complaints in children are often easily corrected with spectacles or contact lenses. The three eye conditions we see most often are:
- Myopia (short-sightedness). This is when a child’s vision is clear up close but is blurry far away. Meaning that they don’t tend to experience issues with reading or writing, and instead find it hard to see the board at school.
- Hypermetropia (long-sightedness). This is when a child’s vision is blurry up close but is clear far away. Children often find it difficult to read and write, and can sometimes misbehave as a result.
- Astigmatism. This is when a child’s eye is more in the shape of a rugby ball than a football. This happens alongside short or long-sightedness and can cause headaches, eye strain and blurred vision.
What types of contact lenses are suitable for children?
The technology used to produce contact lenses is advancing more each year. There are currently plenty of lens options to correct a child’s vision – including for patients with more severe prescriptions.
For children with short-sightedness, specialised myopia control contact lenses can be fitted for young children in order to help reduce the progression of myopia. There are 3 bespoke options that can be tailored to children from 5 years of age, which assist in getting them used to wearing contact lenses from a young age and helping them see more comfortably without the need to wear frames.
With a whole host of lens types to choose from, including soft daily disposables, rigid gas-permeable (RGBs) and toric lenses to name a few, it’s important to talk to your optician about which is suitable for your child.
Here at Reynolds, our expertise covers fitting bespoke contact lenses for complex prescriptions and conditions. Please contact our friendly team for more information.
What are the pros and cons of contact lenses for children?
As with most vision correction options, there are some advantages and disadvantages to wearing contact lenses:
Advantages
- Increased confidence. If your child lacks confidence in wearing glasses, contact lenses can help them feel better in their own skin.
- Improved peripheral vision. With contact lenses, you don’t get rain on any lenses, issues with glasses fogging up or blurry vision at the side of a frame.
- Better for sports and activities. Glasses can fall off more easily during sports, whereas contact lenses allow your child to participate fully without the fear of damage to their glasses or lack of peripheral vision.
- Increased sense of maturity. Taking responsibility for their eye health may make your child feel more mature and organised.
Disadvantages
- More maintenance. There are far more steps involved in wearing contact lenses than glasses which may be overwhelming for your child.
- Potential for infection. Children are typically less hygienic than adults which makes infection a greater risk.
- Frustration in the initial fitting stage. Getting the hang of putting in and taking out contact lenses can be a frustrating process. Your child may need more time as they could become impatient and want to give up.
Book a contact lens fitting with Reynolds Opticians
We hope that this guide has dispelled some misconceptions about contact lenses for children. If you’re feeling ready to book an appointment at either our Penzance or Falmouth practice, talk to us about contact lenses for children today.
