3 Signs Your Child/Teen Is Ready For Contact Lenses
You may already place emphasis on your child's basic health and wellness, but you should also make the underlying health of their eyes and vision a priority. Considering an estimated 25 percent of school-aged children have a form of vision impairment that affects their ability to learn, ensuring they receive proper eye care is imperative. Prescription eyeglasses may be the most popular option for helping your child see in a more clear, concise way, but wearing contact lenses can also be beneficial. With this guide, you will learn if your child is ready to progress from eyeglasses to contacts.
Your Child Asks for Contacts
Most children will show some interest in contact lenses at one point in time. If your child is asking you or the eye doctor about this form of vision correction, be sure to communicate with them in an honest manner.
Your child may prefer wearing contact lenses as opposed to the uncomfortable and visible prescription eyeglasses. They may also prefer contacts if they play sports, since eyeglasses can get in the way of their ability to play.
The eye doctor will first determine if your child is a good candidate for contacts. Since a child's eyes are capable of handling contacts, the only concern of your doctor would be their ability to clean and care for their lenses.
Your Child Is Responsible
As stated earlier, your child will need to be ready to properly handle contact lenses.
Obviously, your child should also be able to place the lens on their eye without any serious default. If they are squeamish, they may not be ready for this new form of vision correction.
If your child is capable of dressing themselves, brushing their teeth and hair, bathing, and completing schoolwork and chores without assistance, they are most likely responsible enough to wear contact lenses.
Your Child Is Clean
Children can be messy. You may notice books, toys, and clothes constantly laying around your child's room. This is normal behavior, but if your child is incapable of brushing their teeth and bathing properly, they are not ready for contact lenses.
Be sure to discuss the importance of keeping their lenses clean and washing their hands before and after inserting the contacts. Your child will also need to prepare themselves for keeping their contacts clean while away from home. If a contact is lost or dropped on the floor when at school, your child will need to know how to clean and insert the lens back in a clean, safe manner without your assistance.
Contact lenses offer many benefits, but children and teens should be ready for this new form of vision correction. Consider asking your eye doctor for an eye exam if your child is ready for contacts.