Contact lenses and your child

CAN MY CHILD WEAR CONTACT LENSES? IF SO, CAN MY CHILD CARE FOR HIS CONTACT LENSES?

These are two simple, yet important questions that parents should ask themselves if they're considering contact lenses for their child. First of all, kids of all ages tolerate contacts remarkably well. Even babies are frequently fitted with contacts to correct or treat eye problems present at birth. Age in years should not be the deciding factor when choosing contact lenses. Rather, a parent should judge each child by his or her own level of maturity. A child who is responsible enough to take out the trash, make his own bed, and remembers to perform household chores is probably old enough to trade in his glasses for contacts.

1. Contacts let the natural, beautiful eyes shine through-this helps maintain a child's self-esteem.

2. Ease of use. You insert them in the morning, and basically, you forget about them. No need to worry about lost or misplaced glasses.

3. Convenience-they don't fog up and they don't get splattered by rain.

4. Improved peripheral vision-a plus for the young athlete.

5. Comfort-Today's lenses are designed to feel great right from the start. No more dealing with the bulkiness of glasses or the problem of glasses constantly sliding down the nose.

AREN'T CONTACT LENSES EXPENSIVE?

Absolutely not! For the price of a good, quality pair of glasses, you can purchase a whole year's supply of lenses. AND HERE'S EVEN BETTER NEWS: If your child's vision changes, most eye doctors will take back any unopened packages of contacts and replace them-free of charge-with your child's new prescription! I've never heard of eyeglass wearers getting their lenses replaced for free. Have you?

OKAY, I'M CONVINCED. WHAT KIND OF LENSES SHOULD MY CHILD GET?

Several types of contacts are available depending on choice and need.

1. SOFT-These are the most popular lenses and offer the most flexibility and the greatest comfort. They are available as disposable, daily wear, and extended wear lenses. Your child's eye care practitioner will prescribe the appropriate wearing schedule.

2. RIGID OR GAS PERMEABLE-Though not as comfortable, and requiring a break-in period, these lenses do offer a few advantages. They give unsurpassed clarity, which can be an added benefit in many instances. This type of lens has also been known to slow down the progression of near-sightedness so that vision never deteriorates quite as far as it would have without the lenses. ***Some eye care professionals discount this as unproven and not based on scientific fact***

I PURCHASED CONTACTS FOR MY CHILD…NOW WHAT?

1. It's important that your child follow his eye doctor's instructions. Lenses should be worn only for the prescribed number of hours and then removed. Though some people actually sleep in their contacts, this is not advised for most individuals. Prolonged wearing can lead to increased risk of infection and injury to the eye.

2. Lenses should be replaced with new lenses according to the doctor's instructions. Old lenses can become coated with protein deposits. This lessens comfort and can lead to problems.

3. Lenses should be cleaned and/or disinfected according to directions. Clean lenses are comfortable and promote healthy eyes.

***If your child has problems inserting the lenses at first, don't despair. Most kids become adept in no time. Go ahead and put the lenses in for your child. Before you know it, your son or daughter will become a pro!***

WHAT KINDS OF PROBLEMS ARISE AND HOW CAN I SPOT THEM?

With proper care, chances are minimal that your child will experience any adverse reactions from wearing contact lenses. However, most problems that do manifest are minor and are easily remedied. Advise your child to inform you if he or she experiences any eye redness, itching or burning sensations, or any vision changes. Treatment, when instituted early, will prevent complications from developing.

Remember, most children can wear contact lenses without any problems. The benefits are numerous, and the risks are few.