Contacts lenses-what age?

[JanaNs]

My dd has been wearing glasses since she was 7. She will be 11 next month. She wears them all the time and has very poor eyesight without them. She is starting to ask me about contacts. If anyone out there has children that wear contacts, at what age did they start? I am thinking she is too young right now but I'm not sure. TIA.

 

[Sleepy]

You might be surprised to know that due to certain medical disorders, there are special contacts out there for children as young as a toddler. My son started wearing glasses at age 5. When he was 7, he started wearing contacts for extracurricular activities.
As long as the child is mature enough to properly clean and store the lenses (and take them out at night while sleeping) any age is a good age.

 

[lovesmurfs]

As long as the child is mature enough to properly clean and store the lenses (and take them out at night while sleeping) any age is a good age.

Which is why DS15, who really wants contacts, doesn't have them, yet!

 

[allison443]

My first dd started wearing glasses around age 8 and got her contacts when she was 13. Second dd got her contacts when she was 12, mainly because she played a lot of sports and had to wear "rec-specs" those sport glasses and they were very uncomfortable for her.
They both got the disposable kind of contacts (acuvue) that you change every two weeks. They don't always take them out at night (you don't have to-you can sleep in them). I think with the disposable there is less of a chance of messing up, kwim?
I remember when I first got contacts-they were the hard ones, you had to start out with an hour a day and work yourself up, they fell out of your eyes, they could easily irritate your eyes, they had to be cleaned daily and deep-cleaned once a week, etc. The soft are a big improvement, if your dd can wear soft.

Good luck!

 

[jen0610]

DD10 got glasses and contact for the first time last July. She was 10 by 27 days.

We did both, because of her activities. For dance and gymnastics, she is almost always in contacts. The only time she isn't, is if she is having an issue getting them in. With softball and basketball, we let her decided what she wants to wear.

DS14 really wants contacts. He has tried to get them in, but he hasn't guite gotten it figured out. He has these really long, I would kill for them, eyelashes that keep messing him up. Once he figures it out, he'll have both as well.

 

[DVCLiz]

Which is why DS15, who really wants contacts, doesn't have them, yet!

Why not get him the disposable extended wear kind? My daughter doesn't have to do any of that stuff - I think those kind you have to take out each night and clean are pretty old fashioned, aren't they?

Hers are worn for a few weeks to a month, then she throws them away and starts with a new pair.

 

[stsomewhere]

My DS -10 just got a contact. He only needed aprescription for this right eye. So, DR. suggested a contact. He did have a time trying to get it in, but once he got the hang of it he was fine.

 

[tonilea]

I was in the sixth grade. My birthday is in the middle of the year, so I was 11 or 12. Back then contacts were expensive. My first set was $300 and I paid for them with my savings. I told my parents they could buy glasses, but I would not wear them. I would gladly pitch in on the contacts. I never had any real problems with them. I was the oldest of four, so I was a pretty mature sixth grader.

Now that contact lenses are so inexpensive - a few lost lenses wouldn't be a big deal.

 

[HsvTeacher]

I think it depends on the child. I started wearing contacts when I was 12 years old. That was before we had disposable contacts, but my parents thought I was mature enough to clean them and take care of them. The only problem I ever had was irritation from seasonal allergies, and I still occasionally have that problem with the disposables.

 

[jimmalru80]

DD switched from glasses to contacts when she entered high school.

 

[Green Tea]

DS got them in 4th or 5th grade. There was never a problem with them.

 

[Camicar]

Dd got hers when she turned 14. In retrospect, she probably could have gotten them when she was 12, because she turned out to be much more responsible with her contacts than anything else. Then again, maybe she was so much more responsible because I'd made her wait for them and the value was higher.

 

[JanaNs]

Thank you all for the responses. I really didn't think the average would be so young. I think she could handle the responsibility and she really wants to ditch the glasses. She got a soccer ball in the nose a couple of weeks ago and the glasses did a number on the bridge of her nose. OUCH!

 

[mfd25wife]

I think DD was 10 or barely 11. Her opthomologist said she could get them when she was able to show responsibility such as doing homework without being hounded, etc.

 

[NotUrsula]

I think DD was 10 or barely 11. Her opthomologist said she could get them when she was able to show responsibility such as doing homework without being hounded, etc.[/quote]


LOL! If that's the criterion, then DS is *doomed* to wear specs forever!

I'm thinking of letting him trial contacts this year; my doc will give him a complimentary pair to see how he does. Eventually I know he'll go for lasik, but I'm sure he'll prefer contacts until he's old enough for that.

Part of the problem in our house is that we only have one bathroom, with no cabinetry other than a old-fashioned 18 inch medicine cabinet. I have a hard time keeping my own contact supplies near at hand, let alone adding another set to the mix.

 

[BMNABrinx]

Our oldest DD got them at 14 (I think). She had a difficult time getting them in & out but no other problems.
Our youngest DD got them at 10 and she has had no problems at all. In fact, she impressed her doc last month when we went in. She took her contacts out and put them in without a mirror! He said he can't do that and he's been wearing them for decades! She is the youngest patient he has ever prescribed them for but her eyes are doing great.
Youngest DD wears hers nearly everyday but oldest only wears hers now & then. She likes her transition lens glasses better and since she doesn't play volleyball anymore the glasses don't interfere with much.
Our doc gave youngest DD a trial pair of contacts to try for a couple of weeks then we had to go back for a follow up. That's when we got her script. Maybe you could just try them out before you buy them.

 

[mfd25wife]

Our oldest DD got them at 14 (I think). She had a difficult time getting them in & out but no other problems.
Our youngest DD got them at 10 and she has had no problems at all. In fact, she impressed her doc last month when we went in. She took her contacts out and put them in without a mirror! He said he can't do that and he's been wearing them for decades! She is the youngest patient he has ever prescribed them for but her eyes are doing great.
Youngest DD wears hers nearly everyday but oldest only wears hers now & then. She likes her transition lens glasses better and since she doesn't play volleyball anymore the glasses don't interfere with much.
Our doc gave youngest DD a trial pair of contacts to try for a couple of weeks then we had to go back for a follow up. That's when we got her script. Maybe you could just try them out before you buy them.

It's funny you mention that she did it without the mirror. I wore contacts for 16 yrs before I had Lasik done. I never could put them in or take them out if I looked in a mirror. I'm squeemish about eyes and it would gross me out. But, I could take them out and put them in anywhere else.

 

[tmarquez]

My brother got them at 9, glasses were a pain because of sports. He took very good care of them and never had a problem.

 

[Zandy595]

I let my DS get contacts the summer before he started middle school, he was 11. He had a hard time at first. The doctor wouldn't let him leave until he could put them in and take them out himself. He tried for a long time, but couldn't get one of them out. They had him come back a few days later and he did great. He's been very responsible with them even though he's not the most responsible kid in other areas. Summer was a good time to get them because he wasn't as rushed in the morning. Also, if there were any problems in the beginning he was home and could take them out if he needed to.

 

[carone0318]

Dd started wearing glasses when she was 4 and started to wear contacts when she was 8 - she's now 12, will be 13 in Sept.

Per her ped. Opthomoligist she told her to do her sports without anything (soccer and competitive gymnastics.) We ended up switching Drs when my insurance changed and new Optho was shocked when I told her dd was wearing nothing.

I told new Dr, that I wasn't having regular glasses, sport glasses for soccer and contacts for gym. So, Dr said well the girl needs something to see so we settled on the contacts.

At first she just wore the contacts on days that she had gym (4days a week), but since probably about 2 yrs ago, she has given up the glasses completely and just wears the contacts (disposables and takes out every night.)