One of the most frequent questions i am asked is “How old do you have to be wear contact lenses?” It’s a great question that really has no specific answer. Physiologically there is no difference between and 7, 17, or 27 year old eyes that makes one more prepared for contacts over another. In regard to children wearing contact lenses, my answer to this question is that it depends on your child’s level of responsibility. Take care of your contacts and they will take care of you. Now, we can make this process of taking care of contact lenses even easier. With single use (daily disposable) lenses this process is as easy as 1, 2, 3.
1. Always wash your hands before handling your contact lenses
2. Throw away your contacts at the end of the day; do not sleep in them
3. Repeat daily
And that’s all there is to it. No cleaning, no rubbing, no storing. Taking care of contact lenses is a lot easier than most daily chores; say taking dirty clothes out of the gym bag (not to mention actually washing the clothes) or cleaning one’s room!
A recent study has shown that kids and teens that wear contact lenses rather than glasses report an increase to their quality of life. Moms, Dads, and the kids that participated in this study noted improvements in vision, activities, and socialization of those children and teens that switched to contact lenses. The truth is, contact lenses can make a lot of the things our kids do every day easier. Easier to catch a fly ball, easier to see the smart board at the front of the class room, easier to stick the perfect landing, and even easier to check the review mirror. I also encourage all my patients to wear sunglasses for optimal UV protection (think of sunglasses as sunscreen for your eyes) and contact lenses make this much easier when at the pool or on a boat.
Parents know their child can do whatever he/she is motivated to do, and most kids are motivated to wear contact lenses! With single use lenses parents can know that their child is in the safest type of lens without worrying whether their son or daughter rubbed and rinsed their lenses or replaced them on schedule. Also, daily lenses do not require cases (which can get really dirty, really fast) and or include a monthly solution cost. In my practice, single use lenses are my recommendation for kids of any age (and their parents)!
Jeff Sterling, O.D.
252-752-2171
Greenville, NC
Doctors Vision Center
SofLens daily disposables are great for active teens. For more info click here!