The following article addresses the question of whether contact lenses are appropriate for children, with a look at several factors to take into account before making a well informed decision. We hope that it will be helpful in your decision making process.
There are several factors to consider if your child expresses interest in wearing contact lenses for correcting refractive error, instead of standard prescription eyeglasses. Age and maturity are crucial when making this consideration. They are not appropriate for very young children, since they require a level of maturity to properly use and maintain. Even highly responsible younger children may have difficulty attending to the daily care of contact lenses.
According to the American Optometric Association (AOA) multiple clinical studies have found that soft contact lenses are perfectly safe for children as young as 8.
Despite the added responsibility of contact lenses, there are many advantages to wearing them, which make them a good option for children of requisite age and maturity:
Explain the processes to your child:
Make sure to monitor your child for any signs or symptoms that might be indications of infection or ocular disorder secondary to wearing contact lenses. These include:
Treatment: Remove them right away and notify your eye doctor if the symptoms persist.
Failure to properly use contact lenses can lead to serious eye infections or ocular disorders. These include:
If your child is old enough and displays the responsibility for using and maintaining them he may be a candidate for contact lenses. Many reputable clinical studies have shown that contact lenses are safe for children. There is even evidence that it can slow the progression of myopia. Speak with your child to make sure that he understands the necessity of all aspects of content lens maintenance. Additionally, he will need to report any signs or symptoms of pain, discomfort, or irritation.
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