Five Indications That Your Child Should Begin Using Contacts

Many young children who wear glasses are eager to try contacts. However, wearing contacts takes getting used to, and some children may not yet be prepared for the chores and responsibilities that go along with contact lens use. 

The following are five important indications to look out for that show that your child can or should begin using contact lenses in place of glasses:

Your child has good hygiene habits.

One of the most important aspects of using contact lenses is keeping them clean. If your child has trouble remembering to brush his or her teeth or is reluctant to carry out personal hygiene tasks without prompting, contacts might not be a good idea. 

Your child enjoys participating in sports and other activities that make it difficult to wear glasses.

Glasses can create hazards if they are worn in certain contact sports like football and hockey. Even polycarbonate eyeglass lenses designed for sports activities have frames that could potentially cause injury if they break.

Contacts are a safe alternative to traditional glasses for a wide variety of sports and for activities that require goggles like swimming and skiing. 

Your child's eyes are not susceptible to redness or irritation.

Some individuals have difficulty coping with contact lenses because their eyes are sensitive and easily become dried out. If your child is prone to eye redness and sensitivity, contact lenses might cause discomfort and even pain. Talk to your child's eye doctor about any frequent eye irritation to determine if your child's eyes can handle contacts. 

Your child dislikes wearing glasses.

Wearing eyeglasses is a sensitive self-esteem issue for many children. This is especially true as kids get older and become more concerned with their appearances. Some children simply want to get away from the hassle of having to care for their eyeglass lenses and remember to bring their eyeglass case with them to school each day. 

Shy and awkward children often "come out of their shells" when they're liberated from the need to constantly interact socially behind thick lenses. 

Your child follows rules.

While contact lens use can be advantageous, it requires a variety of different rules to be followed. Not only will kids need to clean their lenses on a daily basis, but they will also need to keep track of accessories and look out for signs of irritation or redness that could indicate an impending infection.

Children need to be cooperative if they're going to respect the rules of contact use so that their eyes remain healthy. If you think your child is ready, speak with their optometrist about obtaining contacts from a company like Contacts For Good.