A lot of adults choose to wear contact lenses for a multitude of reasons. They’re comfortable, easy, and can give you a wider field of vision.
For some people, contacts are the better choice when it comes to vision correction. But what about contact lenses for children?
As a parent, you may wonder when it’s a good idea for your child to switch from eyeglasses to contacts and what information you need to know before doing so.
Keep reading to learn more about contact lenses for children so you can feel confident and comfortable about your decision.
Vision Correction for Children
Before deciding to introduce the idea of contact lenses to your child, you should understand why vision correction is important in children.
A child’s visual system is constantly developing. Therefore, vision correction plays an essential role in how your child grows. Your child needs to receive regular eye exams to ensure their eyes are healthy and working the way they’re supposed to.
There are many reasons why your child may need vision correction. Some common reasons why your child’s eye doctor may recommend glasses or contacts include:
- To correct vision problems
- To help strengthen the vision of a weak or lazy eye
- To ensure proper eye positioning
- To protect one eye if the other eye has poor vision
Benefits of Contact Lenses for Children
There are many benefits to wearing contact lenses for people of all ages. Some of the reasons people prefer wearing contacts over glasses are because:
- They don’t steam up or get water spots
- They provide a wider field of vision
- They stay in place and don’t restrict movement
- They can be more comfortable than glasses
- They can be worn with sunglasses
In addition to the above reasons, glasses can be a significant change for children. Contacts can give your child the vision correction they need without altering their appearance.
When Can Children Start Wearing Contacts?
A lot of children benefit from wearing contacts. Contacts for kids are completely safe and an excellent option for a lot of children.
Contacts are a big responsibility as they take extra care and cleaning compared to glasses, so most optometrists recommend children start wearing contacts between 8-11 years old when they become a bit more mature.
To know if contacts are the right choice for your child, speak to your child’s optometrist about contact lenses during their next appointment.
Getting Contacts for Your Child
If you have decided that contact lenses are right for your child, they will have to get a contact lens exam and fitting. Because eyeglass prescriptions and contact lens prescriptions differ, your child must receive a proper exam.
During a contact lens exam and fitting, your child’s eye doctor will check our child’s overall eye health and perform several tests to determine their contact lens prescription.
What to Expect During a Contact Lens Exam
A typical contact lens exam includes the following steps:
- A consultation and overview of your child’s medical history and lifestyle
- A standard eye exam
- A contact lens exam to determine your child’s prescription
- A contact lens fitting to find the correct size, style, and shape of lens needed
Caring for Your Child’s Contacts
Although contact lenses can be very beneficial, they do require additional care. To properly care for your child’s contact lenses, you should:
- Follow the instructions and recommendations given to you by your child’s optometrist
- Clean your child’s contact lenses carefully with a lens cleaning solution
- Make sure your child’s contact lens case stays clean is replaced every 3 months
Things to Consider
Although contact lenses are a great option, they aren’t suitable for everyone.
Contact lenses may not be the right option for your child if:
- They are prone to eye infections
- They have other underlying eye conditions that might make contacts uncomfortable
- Your child is not mature enough to properly care for contact lenses
Contact Lenses for Children in Regina
For your child to safely wear contact lenses, they have to be ready to care for them properly. You know your child best, so talk with their optometrist about switching to contact lenses if you think they are prepared to take the step.
Your child’s optometrist can help you decide if contacts are a good option for your child.
If you have any questions about contact lenses for children, don’t hesitate to contact us at Advance Eye Care, Our team is always happy to help.
