Articles on Kids | Topics: kids, kid
by Leilani Underwood
Contacts for Kids – Is It An Option?
Eye experts once thought that the minimum age for a contact wearer should be eighteen years old. Today however more and more young people are sporting contact lenses to school and around the house. There is a larger teen market for lenses than there ever has been. Contact manufacturers are offering hip colors and making their lens choices very fashionable which automatically appeals to most young people. With wearing glasses to school being a bit taboo, teens and pre-teens are looking for ways to see clearly while still fitting in socially. The biggest question in this whole scheme however, is if contacts should be an option for kids. If you are a parent who is trying to make this decision, consider these factors before automatically giving in.
Is The Child Mature Enough?
When you think of getting your child contact lenses, you have to think first about whether he or she is mature enough to handle them properly. This is not just a question about whether or not they can put them in and take them out themselves. It is also about whether or not they can properly care for their eyes. When you use contacts irresponsibly, you are putting your vision at risk. A child must be mature enough to follow through with proper contact cleaning procedures, which includes washing their hands before handling and cleaning the contacts as directed.
They should also be mature enough to take the contacts out during the night and to deal with any situations that may arise during the school day with their contacts. The child should certainly be able to take the contacts out and put them in by themselves, although this step may take a little practice. It takes patience to learn this procedure however and some kids get panicked when the contacts don't come out as easily as expected. As a parent or guardian, you have to honestly think about these things before agreeing to allow your child to wear contacts.
Is It Cost Efficient?
| Bit of History |
Children are extraordinarily precious members of society; they are exquisitely alert, sensitive, and conscious of their surroundings; and they are extraordinarily vulnerable to maltreatment or emotional abuse by adults who refuse to give them the profound respect and affection to which they are unconditionally entitled.
| —Wisdom of the Elders, quoted in Kids Are Worth It, by Barbara Coloroso, ch. 1 (1994) |
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When you talk about children or teens wearing contacts, you have to think about the financial obligation. The fact is that children and teens are not going to be as "easy" on things as adults are. Most of the time their things don't last as long because they are still learning about boundaries, and tend to press the limits. When you are talking about expensive lenses, this can be a problem. You should think about the cost that you would be losing if your child was not responsible with their contacts. If you can, it is suggested to choose disposable lenses for children. This ensures that if they lose one set, you will not lose a great deal of money and they will have more to use as backups. If your eye expert thinks your child could only wear the most expensive contacts available due to a specific eye condition, you might want to wait until they are a bit older before forking over the cash.
Are They Active?
Active children are probably great candidates for contacts. When you parent an active child who wears glasses you soon realize that you will probably replace their glasses at least four times a year. Glasses simply get in the way when it comes to youth sports. While you can wear eyeglass protectors, they don't always work as well as they should and tend to be bothersome to most children. If your child is active, talk to their eye professional about the possibility of getting contacts. You can choose to allow them only to wear the contacts during sports, or you can allow them to wear them whenever they feel the urge. Children should still meet the maturity requirements however when it comes to wearing contacts.
Whether or not your child or teen is ready for contacts is a decision that can only be made on an individual basis. Each child is different and is at a different maturity level, regardless of age. The best thing to do is to talk to your child about the responsibilities of wearing contacts and the serious consequences if they don't take proper care of their contacts. Then talk with your local eye professional about contact options for your child. After gathering all of the information, make a decision based on what you think is best for your child.
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