Any kids with contacts? How old?

[ShannonRT]

DD10.5 has expressed some interest in getting contacts. She will be 11 in November and has been wearing glasses for about a year and a half. She is great about wearing them (much better than I was at her age) and keeps them on basically from the time she gets up until she goes to bed. Her vision is not that terrible (-1.75 or so) but she says she can see so much better with them. She will be 11 in November and has her regular eye appointment next week. Last time we went, they said they have patients as young as 8 with contacts. I just don't think most 8 year-olds can be responsible enough to take care of them.

Your thoughts please?

 

[pixiepower1971]

My DD got them at 9. (10 now) She is very responsible with them and we have had no problems. I watched over her the first week and she had a good grasp on things. She loves them so much she is extra careful-the thought of having to wear her glasses again is horrifying!

 

[disney4us2002]

My son was 14 but he was a slob til then and I was worried about the cleaning and eye infections. The eye doc basically said it was up to us and not much of a problem with disposables anyway. My middle ds played travel baseball from 8-12 and there were several kids on his team that wore contacts and loved them.

If she wants it, why not let her try a box (or two - might be two different prescriptions) and see how it goes?

 

[jimmalru80]

DD (16) has had them for about 4 years. No real problems.

 

[DVC-Don]

Our daughter was 12 and son was 14.

 

[Evil Queen]

My oldest DS had the option,he waited until 21.

But at this time he's wearing his glasses, but I think that's more due to budget. He's one of those that looks great in glasses.

 

[Ready to go in Ok]

DD15 has been wearing them for about 5 years. Just a warning, something that I should have thought about, but didn't. If your daughter has different vision in each eye, you will have to buy 2 boxes at a time. The upside is you only have to buy them half as often. I know, this is a no brainer, but they were giving me the spiel, only $XX per box, and I thought, ok, that is pretty cheap, then went to pay for them and Doh! double.

 

[dizneenut]

I got mine at 16, so I told my DS (who will be 16 soon) that if he wants to try them at 16, we will.

 

[disneygals]

My dd tried them last year at 10.5 yo. She had no problems getting them in, but had a reaction to the solution. She took a break, tried again at 11.5, now uses the one days and has had no probs. She is very responsible.

 

[Aurora63]

I got my first contacts at 15, I think any younger would have been too soon...the maintenance and all. Of course, if you go the disposable route, that might be different!

 

[TeresaMc]

My son got them right before he entered 8th grade. He was 13 yrs old. Myself and DH both wear contacts also, so we could keep an eye on him, but he has no problems and has been responsible.

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

My DD (14) got them a few months back. Loves them! If your DD is responsible, I'd consider it. It takes a week or two to get used to taking them out and putting them in though. Lots of patience!

 

[becjlek]

My son has been wearing glasses since he was 18 months. We got contacts at 13.5. Actually, just one contact now since his eyes have improved so much. In about 1.5 years probably no contacts.

 

[ZuZugal]

My DS13 and DD11 both wear them.

The rule from the eye doctor is......the child MUST be able to put them in and take them out on their own or the Dr. won't dispense the lenses. It took my DS a few days and lots of frustration, but now he cannot live w/o them.

 

[LisaNJ25]

My son was 14 but he was a slob til then and I was worried about the cleaning and eye infections. The eye doc basically said it was up to us and not much of a problem with disposables anyway. My middle ds played travel baseball from 8-12 and there were several kids on his team that wore contacts and loved them.

If she wants it, why not let her try a box (or two - might be two different prescriptions) and see how it goes?

ROTF..... DS wants them also and he will be 14 in Oct. I have have to remind him to brush his teeth so I dont know about contact yet.

 

[golfgal]

My DS13 and DD11 both wear them.

The rule from the eye doctor is......the child MUST be able to put them in and take them out on their own or the Dr. won't dispense the lenses. It took my DS a few days and lots of frustration, but now he cannot live w/o them.

That was our dr's rules too. She didn't like to give them to kids under 9 but if they showed that they could handle them, she would give them to kids that young. My twins got theirs last winter when they were 10 1/2 and have done wonderfully with them! It has been SOOOOO nice not worrying about their glasses and getting them adjusted when they get knocked off or into while playing sports, recess, etc.

 

[ShannonRT]

Thanks for the responses. DD plays softball and I'm worried she'll break her glasses or something. She is also wanting prescription sunglasses too, but I told her if she gets contacts, then she can just wear regular sunglasses. Personally I wore glasses myself from 5th grade until I got contacts at 13 or 14. Then I had LASIK surgery at 27 and have had perfect vision ever since!!

We'll see what the Dr. has to say on Monday.

 

[BeckWhy]

I got mine in 7th or 8th grade. I dunno how old I was, LOL.

I think it depends on how responsible the child is... like I got mine at the youngest, and my sister didn't get hers til she was.... 10th or 11th grade. She never took hers out. She slept in them and never changed them. Now her eyesite is 2400 (that means she can't see the big E at the top of the eye chart, and if it wasn't correctable, she would be legally blind).