Contact Lens for Kids
Can Kids Wear Contact Lenses?
Basically, there is no age restriction on contact lenses
for kids. As a matter of fact, even very young children can
wear them and many do for a variety of reasons.
Contact lenses for kids work the same as they do for adults.
They help to enhance appearance, they are comfortable to wear
and they make a good choice for improving vision. The varieties
of contact lenses for kids are the same as adults including
daily wear, extended wear, continuous wear and disposable
and it's difficult to argue against contact lenses for kids.
Kids who are very active in sports find that wearing contact
lenses is much easier than dealing with the hassle involved
in wearing eyeglasses. Eyeglasses and sports aren't always
a good match. They break more frequently and replacing children's
eyeglasses can be quite expensive.
Kids are also cruel, and children who wear eyeglasses find
that they're often subjected to unnecessary taunting and name-calling.
Such habit can seriously impact a child's self-esteem and
confidence, especially when they're young and don't know how
to disregard the words being said.
Studies have proven that contact lenses for kids, in particular
rigid gas permeable styles, have the added benefit of helping
to keep nearsightedness from progressing.
There is something else that you need to consider before
making a final decision, however. Although a child's age isn't
always a consideration, a parent may wish to consider a child's
maturity level. With the decision to wear contact lenses comes
an understanding that the wearer has certain responsibilities
which must be upheld. Since no two children mature at the
same pace, parents are the best person to make decisions for
them.
It helps to consider how the child behaves and does or does
not currently show responsibility. For example, how is the
child at caring for pets, or at finishing chores or at completing
school assignments?
If a child isn't yet mature enough to deal with the responsibility,
the parent then has to decide whether he or she is willing
to take responsibility for cleaning, maintenance, insertion
and removal of the contact lenses and also for scheduling
eye examinations and follow-up visits as necessary.
If a child is mature and is motivated, then most likely that
the child makes a good candidate. And since most children
take instruction well, especially when someone other than
a parent gives it, they can be trained at wearing and caring
for contact lenses as they've been instructed by the eye doctor.
Contact lenses for kids do carry the same risks as adults
have including a higher incidence of eye infection, dryness
or abrasion. Some children might not be good candidates even
though they are very keen to try out.
Should you have any doubts, always discuss with someone who
has experience prescribing contact lenses for kids.
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