Teens & contact lens -what do I need to know?

[scoutie]

Get disposable lenses. They are $30 for a box of six, and if you lose one, or one dries out, it's not a huge deal. One box lasts for six months. I wished they existed when I was a teen! I had all kinds of issues with contacts as a teen. Dropping one on the floor was cause for major panic and anxiety. Does anybody remember having to soak their lenses once a week in some sort of heavy duty solution with tablets to get deposits the off?

 

[cfriend416]

Get disposable lenses. They are $30 for a box of six, and if you lose one, or one dries out, it's not a huge deal. One box lasts for six months. I wished they existed when I was a teen! I had all kinds of issues with contacts as a teen. Dropping one on the floor was cause for major panic and anxiety. Does anybody remember having to soak their lenses once a week in some sort of heavy duty solution with tablets to get deposits the off?

Do they sell non-disposable lenses anymore? I'm not trying to be a smart aleck, I'm honestly wondering.

 

[StephMK]

Thanks for all of the advice! Wow, this turned out differently than I thought. When I told all of this to DD13, she said, "Never mind, I want to keep my glasses!" Guess I don't have to worry about this yet after all.

The idea of being so careful and the possibility of infections scared her off for now.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

Most kids don't work anywhere that would require an annual eye exam.

Those with vision care insurance might choose to get a new exam every year regardless. But with 5 of us in the house with glasses or contacts and no vision coverage at all, the benefit of having glasses and not needing a new exam every year (unless the glasses need to be replaced) is big. I wore my last pair for 5 years so for 5 years I had no vision related expenses. That's definitely not the case for my 2 in contacts.

I understand

 

[scdak]

Get disposable lenses. They are $30 for a box of six, and if you lose one, or one dries out, it's not a huge deal. One box lasts for six months. I wished they existed when I was a teen! I had all kinds of issues with contacts as a teen. Dropping one on the floor was cause for major panic and anxiety. Does anybody remember having to soak their lenses once a week in some sort of heavy duty solution with tablets to get deposits the off?

And the weekly soaking was in a little "washing machine" (that's what I called it) where you put in the cleaner and swished the top around for a little like a washer and let them sit all night before using them the next day

 

[scdak]

The only other thing I could add to the great handwashing advice is to be careful if she has long natural or acrylic nails, my niece had a terrible time trying to get them in and out of the case for some reason when she had artificial nails, never did get the hang of it and tore many lenses (and they weren't the disposible type) before I finally said to pick "nails or eyes"........she picked eyes. Fast forward 15 years - she has nails and glasses

 

[wvjules]

The only other thing I could add to the great handwashing advice is to be careful if she has long natural or acrylic nails, my niece had a terrible time trying to get them in and out of the case for some reason when she had artificial nails, never did get the hang of it and tore many lenses (and they weren't the disposible type) before I finally said to pick "nails or eyes"........she picked eyes. Fast forward 15 years - she has nails and glasses

Ditto!!! I got nails a few weeks ago and this is a huge problem. I have ripped 3 contacts. One I had to go to eye dr to get the piece removed. Putting the contacts in is easy. Getting them our is difficult.

 

[mom2rtk]

Thanks for all of the advice! Wow, this turned out differently than I thought. When I told all of this to DD13, she said, "Never mind, I want to keep my glasses!" Guess I don't have to worry about this yet after all.

The idea of being so careful and the possibility of infections scared her off for now.

LOL. The one thing really predictable about 13 year olds..... is how unpredictable they are!

 

[Handbag Lady]

Thanks for all of the advice! We're still on the fence about letting her get them now or making her wait and "earn" the right to wear them. She is good about hygiene but has not been great about wearing her rubber bands for braces. She also had some struggles with her grades this year so we question her reliability to be responsible in general. We've thought about making her wait until she can show she is responsible in other areas first.

I think we'll see how it goes tomorrow and go from there. She is very careful and has never lost or broken a pair of glasses so I'll give her that. I appreciate everyone's responses! They give us some points to think about.

Edited: Never mind, I see she changed her mind! I'd wait til she's 15 or 16.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

Do they sell non-disposable lenses anymore? I'm not trying to be a smart aleck, I'm honestly wondering.

Yes- unfortunately.. My vision is so bad I can only use the Gas Perm ones which last about a year (or 1.5 years ) cost about 3x to maintain (solutions cost 8-10 bucks a small bottle vs 3-4 for a large bottle) and cost about 100 a lens to replace..

but with the new set I should be back to seeing 20/40

I was forced into contacts at 15 due to them not being able to make glasses 'strong enough' so it wasn't an option.. After the first few weeks I wish I would've switched sooner..

 

[disneylovin24]

DD13 has worn glasses the last few years and really, really wants contacts. I have absolutely no experience with them and DH only wears glasses.

What should I be aware of, are they easy to care for, and are there any hidden costs? We have an appt tomorrow for her annual eye exam. If we decide to go with them, they will train her in how to put them in and have her back in a week to check them.

What issues could come up, are they hard to manage, etc? I appreciate any comments & advice!!

I got contacts when I was 12. Putting them in the first time was interesting, but I became a pro pretty quick. I think it's simple enough to know to wash your hands and do it. I wouldn't let that scare your daughter off at all. They really aren't that high maintenance to keep up with.

I love contacts a lot more than glasses. They don't fog up, don't fall off as easily and don't get covered in water in the rain.

 

[JVL1018]

My daughter started wearing contacts at 10. I would only do daily disposables for a younger person, no worry about keeping up with a cleaning regimen.
Actually my daughter is way more responsible than I am, always washes her hands before putting them or taking them out.
I usually wash my hands before putting them in, but I'm not so good at remembering to do it upon taking them out.

Anyway, they're more expensive, but worth it, IMO.

 

[JVL1018]

I generally agree with this statement, but strangely enough, my contacts cost the same at the eye doctor as they do from 800contacts, for both. I have Focus Daily and Acuvue Advance 2 (for extended wear).

My contacts and my daughters are roughly the same through the eye doctor or 1-800-contacts too.
Its also quicker. Last week I called one afternoon to reorder DDs contacts and they were ready to be picked up the next morning.

 

[Bluestars]

My son started wearing contacts when he was 11. He's never had an eye infection and is able to swim with them on without any problems. He does wash his hands before handling them.

We buy the contacts online from 1-800-contacts. I always get plenty so that he can carry an extra set in his backpack to take to school and extra in his car. He's never worn glasses.

 

[aprilgail2]

I'd go for the daily disposables from the start. My teen started with monthly disposables. Like most teen girls, she likes eye make-up. While she is pretty hygienic, she ended up with a raging eye infection. We got that cleared up and she's used the daily contacts with no problems for some time now.

They are more expensive, but IMO, they are worth it for teens.

I agree! I wouldn't get anything other than the disposables dailys for a tween/teen. My daughter started wearing contacts at 10 and I got her the dailys and there has never been any issues. I buy them from the eye Dr since I checked and the price was pretty close to the online prices plus its so easy to just bring back our leftovers and get new ones when her prescription changes at no extra cost.