This is a very common dilemma many parents face. Should my child wear contact lenses? Are they safe? This was even a dilemma my father, an ophthalmologist, faced when I wanted contact lenses at 10 years of age.

Essentially whether contact lenses are right for your child comes down to three things. According to a study presented at the Contact Lens Spectrum in 2008, children and teens have shown they can take care of their contact lenses just as well as adults.

So how do you know whether contact lenses are appropriate for your child?

• Is your child responsible enough to take care of his/her contact lenses? Are they likely to use shortcuts or sleep in their lenses?
• Has your child demonstrated that he/she can wear the glasses properly without losing or breaking them (too often)?
• Are you willing to pay for them? Insurance almost NEVER covers the cost of contact lenses and solutions.

If the answer to ALL 3 of these questions is “yes,” then contact lenses may be right for your child. If the answer to ANY of these questions is “no,” then I would reconsider and wait for the child to continue to mature prior to fitting for contact lenses.

If you have any further question, feel free to schedule an exam with one of our ophthalmologists and consult with one of our contact lens specialists.