Children and Contact Lenses
Today, there is very little reason to worry about having your life significantly affected by far- or nearsightedness. There are treatments and surgeries as well as glasses and contact lenses that easily restore your vision to near perfect conditions. However, a child who is forced to wear glasses could have his or her self-esteem strongly affected by this, especially when they are starting to get into their teenage years. Although it is possible to find nearly all manner of fashionable eyeglasses in this day and age, many parents of short-sighted children will sooner or later face a barrage of questions about contact lenses from their child.
But at what age would a switch to contact lenses be appropriate, and what are the available options?
Correctly used contact lenses are in no way harmful to the health of the eye, and are frequently prescribed to children born with cataracts or similar conditions. The main concern making eye health professionals reluctant to prescribe lenses to young children is whether or not they are mature enough or possess the ability to undertake the responsibility of proper eye and lens care.
Dr. Jeffrey Walline concluded in a study published by the American Academy of Optometry that daily disposable lenses are a good way to start wearing lenses for children and young teenagers. These are the kind of lenses you insert in the morning, wear for the duration of the day and discard after removing them at night. Normal, functioning children within the ages of 8 to 11 years old displayed no difficulties in learning to deal with daily disposable lenses and were fully able to take care of and wear them on a daily basis. Also, as children are well equipped to adapting to new situations and lifestyles, this will make them better at maintaining lenses and eye health as they grow up.
While one can argue that extended wear lenses are preferable to daily disposable lenses, as they require little more maintenance than inserting and removing them once on a monthly basis, there is much value to be gained from having the child learn how to deal with lenses every day. When eye care is a part of your daily routine, inserting, removing and handling lenses becomes second nature.
If the child is ever to change to extended wear lenses the transition will be painless, and any issues that arise with irritation, cleaning and disinfecting is easily handled without any difficulties.
There are many options and alternatives to lenses such as LASIK and ICL Surgery suitable for most vision impaired children above 18 years of age suffering from long-term nearsightedness or astigmatism. You can find out the best course of action by talking through them all with your child and your optician.
Discovering what is best for their eye sight needs is a process that involves a little trial and error, but a capable and well adapted child has no reason to not be able to enjoy the benefits of contact lenses.
Contributed by Lensshopper.com, the contact lens price comparison website.
I enjoye dyour post. I was a child who had no choie bu tto wear wide frame eyeglasses. My self esteem was so low during my teenage years. I was so glad when I could afford to purchas cntacts andnice glasses that fit my face. I believe the appropriateage for a child to wear contacts vary based on their matuity and responsibility. It is very imoortant that the chld is able to take care of the lenses, not only becasue they are expensive, but that they could harm their eyes from bacteria and other elements.