Glasses or contacts for teenage daughter?

[verge1116]

My DD is getting her drivers permit next month. She told me today that she cannot see things far away and is worried she won't pass the vision test. I have vision insurance, but it only covers glasses OR contacts, not both. I can't affors to get both right now, what option would you go with? No one else in my family wears glasses so this all new to me!

 

[cassandrap83]

Ask her. What does she want?

For what it is worth, contacts are a P.I.T.A. I wouldn't blame your 16yr old for not wanting glasses, though.

 

[FLAngie]

I would go with disposable contacts if you eye Dr. gives you the choice. I switched from glasses to contacts when I was 12 and didn't have any problems. It wasn't 'cool' to wear glasses then. I do have a pair of glasses now, but only wear them once or twice a year.

 

[ksumn1]

I'm not sure if she can get get contacts 1st before glasses but maybe I'm wrong. I always thought you had to wear glasses 1st, to adjust, then you could get contacts.

As much as she may hate it, I would do glasses 1st. It's hard enough to adjust to glasses initially. I can't imagine adjusting to not only the vision changes but the whole something in my eye feeling of contacts that you 1st get. But that's just my opinion.

She may not need glasses all the time. Just for driving, reading etc so it might not be so bad. I've had glasses since I was 12 so no big deal for me as a teenager.

But if you choose glasses, you can get extended wear and overnight contacts like I have. Not that I ever sleep in them but I could.

 

[clh2]

OK - I am a glasses wearer. I will never have contacts...not ever (I have a bizarre something or other - with a proper medical name and everything) so contacts are not advised.

So - take this info for whatever it is worth: Every contacts wearer I know always has a back-up pair of glasses. So - I can see how you can only have 1 pair of glasses only, but I cannot see how you would be able to have JUST contacts.

 

[FozzieFan]

In reality you need glasses to wear contacts. You can't wear contacts 24/7 and if her eyes are severe enough that the DR wants her to wear something all the time she'll need glasses for late at night or in the am before she puts them on and in case she were to get some sort of eye irritation.

I would suggest going with glasses first, especially since she has gone this long. In reality she may only need her glasses to drive, to see the board at school and maybe movies. (but only her doctor can tell her that)

Also price out glasses at Costco. I always used to get glasses at Lenscrafters, my dog ate my last pair and I was off to Costco. I got lenses and frames (really nice designer stylish frames) for $100.

 

[lumpy08]

For me my vision plan covers my eye glasses, but it is separate for contacts. The contacts are typically a different type of exam where they measure the size, shape of the eye. I also cannot see far. I started wearing glasses in the 6th grade. (Only for reading the board at school). But at the time glasses were not really the "in" thing. I hated them. I hated them so much I used to leave them in my pocket and one day they fell out of my pocket and I drove over them.... Although today alot of kids wear glasses.

I would suggest her starting off with glasses. The reason why is because when you start to wear contacts your eyes really start to become dependent on them and you eventually start wearing them all the time. Thus, your eyes end up getting worse and worse quicker than someone who wears glasses. I started wearing contacts my junior year in high school. I was also the type to not be able to touch my eyeball. It reallly takes about a good week to get used to putting contacts in.

I would suggest that if you do purchase glasses or contacts to get the prescription from your eye doctor and then purchase them from costco or BJ's. They are much cheaper. Also, I am sure her prescription is probably not that big that she could also get the sun glasses clip that comes with them and they just snap on and you would never know.

For what it worth I actually love wearing contacts more than glasses. For me whie driving it is more of the view on the sides that bother me wearing glasses.

 

[zoemurr]

love love love my contacts and so does my DH. We put them in in the morning and take them out at night before bed.

I don't think most eye drs. will give contacts without glasses because they don't want you wearing contacts exclusively. You can get them for $8 from zennioptical.com. (We did and were happy with them.)

I would get her the contacts. But be prepared as they are not easy for most people at first. I had glasses at that age and never wore them. Finally when I got contacts I could see. They will definitely be more expensive, but you can shop around and they shouldn't be too bad if she doesn't need anything fancy.

Just make sure she takes them out at night and throws them away when she is supposed to. I was about that age when I got mine and they changed my life.. I would never go back and I know DH feels the same way.

Good luck!

 

[DaniB]

Check with the doctor whether your daughter can even wear contacts. I was told a few years ago that I was not a candiate for contacts. Which is ok with me as I don't think I could ever put them in my eyes...

A PP raised the point that contact lense wearers should have a back-up pair of glasses - and that is so true!

 

[Tinkertude]

I would wait until the exam to make the dicision. That way you have the advice of the Dr. to include in the purchase. I was given sample contacts to try and could then buy glasses or contacts.

 

[NeedaVacation03]

My DD16 has worn glasses for several years and added contacts last year. She has never had a problem with the glasses. They make some very beautiful glasses and she has enjoyed picking them out. The contacts are great when she wants to wear regular sunglasses.
I would definately advise glasses before contacts though.

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

If you can do a search, you will see my long thread about contacts for my 12 year old. He is the only one in the family who needs vision correction.

He stuck with it against all odds, and I would have bet the farm that he couldn't do it, but low and behold, he had it down within a week. The first few tries were tough though.

He also cannot see distances, but I ask three different optometrists, who all said that his eyes would not get worse without constant wear. He wore his glasses only to see the board at school for 2 years, and really needed to switch to contacts for baseball. He loves them, and has started wearing them most days.

A great on-line place to order contacts is coastal contacts - cheaper than Costco. We even got a free pair of glasses with our first order! He wears 2 week disposables - Acuvue Oasys - very comfortable, and had a rebate.

 

[Cooky]

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[DVCLiz]

In reality you need glasses to wear contacts. You can't wear contacts 24/7 and if her eyes are severe enough that the DR wants her to wear something all the time she'll need glasses for late at night or in the am before she puts them on and in case she were to get some sort of eye irritation.

I would suggest going with glasses first, especially since she has gone this long. In reality she may only need her glasses to drive, to see the board at school and maybe movies. (but only her doctor can tell her that)

Also price out glasses at Costco. I always used to get glasses at Lenscrafters, my dog ate my last pair and I was off to Costco. I got lenses and frames (really nice designer stylish frames) for $100.

My DD21 wears contacts 24/7 and has for years.

 

[bigfish2215]

I have worked for a eye doc for the past 15 years. You can do both but I STRONGLY advise to get glasses as a back up if she plans to wear the CL more. You should have a back up to the CL b/c if she has an eye infection she won't and should not wear her CLs and some days she won't want to wear the CL. Also, we start our new wear patients with a full training (make sure she gets this) They should tell her how long to wear them how to clean them and MOST important handling of the lenses. It should be up to the DR if contacts are for your daughter. Wash Wash your hands before putting your CL in and out. You wouldn't believe the things we see some people do to the contacts. Please don't choose the cheapest CL b/c it will save you money, talk to the Dr for the best options out there. I personally like the daily CL, wear them once and toss them at night. You don't have to clean them. Cost a little more but you will $$ b/c you don't need solution.

 

[Anne34]

My DS15 just got glasses last week because he failed the vision test at the DMV for her learner's permit. Seriously -- I could not believe he couldn't see!! He said that it never bothered him - he did fine in school too.

We went to Lenscrafters and he was told that he needed to get used to the glasses first before going with contacts. He wanted the contacts right away and they said to wait -- if we come back within 3 months they only need to do the contact part of the exam - not the whole thing. Go with glasses first.

 

[verge1116]

Thanks everyone for all the responses. I guess we do need to see what the doctor recommends, but I am leaning towards getting glasses first because she is not opposed to wearing them and she does seem to have sensitive eyes. My insurance will cover up to $140 for frames, and a $20 copay on the lenses, hopefully we can get something cute in that range!

 

[Sadie22]

My entire family wears glasses all the time. We all get nonglare and nonscratch coatings. The local shop we use gives excellent service and has replaced broken parts and recoated lenses for us many times. If something is wrong with the way the lenses are ground (this happened with my progressive lenses when a new lab changed the curvature of the lenses), they work with us until the problem is fixed.

It's good to have some insurance toward the cost of the glasses but don't count on it covering all costs. Make an appointment with a good optometrist or opthamologist, who will follow your daughter's care, rather than going to the cheapest chain store. Eldest lived in one state several years and went to a chain for glasses. When a frame broke despite their being less than a year old an outlet of the same chain at his new location couldn't help. He had to pay to get new glasses.

The eye doctor should be familiar with the driver's vision test and may even have a form to give your daughter to exempt her from being re-examined for vision at the department of motor vehicles. You could also check online or visit the driver testing facility to get such a form if it is issued by the department of motor vehicles. When your daughter has her eyes examined she may be able to have this form filled out.

The doctor will need to determine if contacts will help your daughter. If so he or she will provide training. Our youngest got contacts at 18 but still glasses are necessary as backup during contact adjustment period, while contacts are being cleaned, when working in certain environments, when eyes are irritated or infected, etc. Due to his prescription he actually requires a different type and brand of contact for each eye. His vision with contacts is better than his vision with glasses. He was able to put the lenses in, and remove them, on the first try. I get the idea that's unusual.

 

[Mandychelle79]

What I do is have the insurance pay for my contact lens exam and my contacts and then pick out a cheap set of frames and lenses. I typically go to wal-mart and can get glasses for around 50. My contacts cost 70 per box so its a no brainer for me to use the money from the insurance to cover those. I then get my contacts every visit ( usually every two years) but only redo the glasses every 4 as my eyes dont change much anymore.

 

[cbg1027]

I got my glasses at 8 and started wearing contacts at 11. Both are annoying, but I like the contacts more for a several reasons:
If it's raining and I'm outside, I can still see!
If I'm playing sports I don't have to worry about flying objects hitting and breaking them (happened several times when I wore only glasses).
If it's humid out, my contacts won't fog up like glasses.
My contacts correct my vision totally. With glasses I have that funky outside circle of fuzziness in my peripheral vision because the glasses only sit so close to my eyes.
When it's hot out, contacts won't slide down a sweaty nose like glasses.
Contacts won't get a glare on them.
You can wear contacts while swimming - can't wear glasses when swimming.

But I would highly recommend getting both. I wear my contacts during the day and my glasses at night and first thing in the morning. You can get the contacts with your insurance and just buy a really cheap pair of glasses out of pocket.

But I have really horrible vision and just cannot function a few hours with no vision correction.

Make sure your daughter is responsible enough for contacts. It's very important that she NOT sleep in them. They need to be taken out and washed every day. Even the kinds that say you can wear for a week straight should not be worn 24/7. They collect bacteria and need to be cleaned everyday. Plus, your eyes get dry!