Should You Let Your Child Wear Contact Lenses?

Contact lens wearing is usually not the norm for children. However, experts agree that it’s perfectly fine for kids to wear contacts on a regular basis. There are just a few things to consider to know if contact lenses really do suit your child. After all, each individual’s needs are different and unique from others.

To help you decide whether contact lenses are right for your child, your trusted eye doctor at Vienna Eyecare Center shares the pros and cons of contact lens wearing.

Benefits of Contact Lens Wearing Among Kids

These are the main advantages of wearing contact lenses for children:

Better Vision – When used correctly, contact lenses will help your child see more clearly. Rigid gas permeable lenses may provide better vision than glasses, and they also enable your child to have good peripheral vision.
Improved Self-Esteem – Eyeglasses may go in and out of style. And if your kid uses thick lenses, this could cause them to stand out and be a target for teasing — which could be bad for their self-esteem. Contacts usually offer a boost in self-esteem, so these might just help your child become more confident and perform better in school.
Ideal for Sports – Eyeglasses can be bothersome for kids when they are playing sports. Even with impact-resistant lenses, they may still get worried about the frames breaking, especially during contact sports. The lenses of eyeglasses or safety glasses may also fog up sometimes, and this could affect their vision and performance. Sport contact lenses usually take care of these issues, so they may be better suited for your child.

Remember that contact lens wearing comes with certain responsibilities, especially when it comes to the proper care and use of contacts. Make sure that your child is mature enough to understand and carry out the best practices of contact lens wearing. Don’t forget to consult your optometrist as well. They will surely be able to offer more specific advice.

Disadvantages of Contact Lens Wearing Among Kids

Contact lenses are generally safe for children to use, but they do come with risks such as eye irritation and infection. Those are pretty much the biggest disadvantages that you should try to avoid. That said, make sure that your child has a good understanding of these basic rules:

Properly disinfect and handle the contacts when wearing and removing them
Do not share or swap contact lenses with another person
Do not use tap water, distilled water or homemade non-sterile solution for cleaning their contacts
Remove their contacts before going to sleep
Remove their contacts at the first sign of irritation

Vienna Eyecare Center has been providing family eye care services since 1984. We are a local practice composed of experienced doctors and staff, so you can expect a friendly and professional atmosphere when you visit the office. Call us at (703) 938-7633 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve customers in Fairfax, VA, and the surrounding areas.

Dr. Richard Snively