By: Douglas R. Fredrick MD, FAAP
Stylish frames and tinted lenses have made eyeglasses more fun to wear. Even so, your child might want to switch to contact lenses at some point.
How can you decide if they're ready for contacts? What healthy routines will they need to learn to prevent eye infections and other complications?
Here's what parents and caregivers need to know about contact lenses and eye health for kids and teens.
Is it OK for kids to wear contacts?
For children with poor vision caused by refractive errors (problems with focusing), glasses are often the first choice. But many young people who
play sports might prefer contacts, since they don't break as easily as frames and lenses. In some cases, eye doctors may recommend contacts to
slow the progression of nearsightedness (myopia) in children aged 8 to 12.
How do contacts correct vision problems?
Contact lenses are thin, clear plastic discs that float on the
tear film in your child's eye. Like eyeglasses, they correct blurry vision that happens when the eye does not bend or focus light properly. Contacts can be used to correct nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and distorted vision due to
astigmatism ("football shaped eyes").
Types of contact lenses
There are two types of contact lenses your eye doctor might recommend:
Soft contact lenses, which are flexible and foldable
Rigid gas permeable contact lenses, which are made from stiff plastic that cannot be folded.
While rigid gas-permeable lenses are a good choice for children with high amounts of astigmatism, most children prefer soft lenses for comfort and convenience.
Daily wear vs. extended wear contacts
Daily wear contacts can be put in when your child wakes up and stored or even tossed away at bedtime. Extended wear contact lenses (lenses you can sleep in overnight) also are approved for use, but most ophthalmologists do not recommend them. This is because extended wear lenses are associated with a higher risk of eye infections that can cause permanent damage to vision.
How young is too young for contacts?
Most eye care professionals agree that children as young as 8 years old can safely use contact lenses. By this age, children can learn care routines that prevent eye infections and other concerns relating to contacts.
Your child may be ready for contact lenses if they can:
Easily follow directions and build new skills
Do daily tasks without reminders
Learn to keep lenses clean
Follow a regular wear schedule
Handle lenses carefully so they don't break or tear
What are the health risks of contacts for kids?
Contact lenses do come with certain risks. The most common concerns are eye infections such as
keratitis. With keratitis, the cornea—the clear, dome-shaped surface of the eye—becomes infected. Keratitis can scar your child's cornea, harming their vision.
Kids who wear contacts can also develop
conjunctivitis, or pink eye. This happens when the blood vessels in the membrane that lines the eyelid and eyeball become swollen and irritated.
Causes of eye infections in contact wearers may include:
Using extended-wear lenses, which reduce the amount of oxygen that reaches the cornea. This makes it harder for the eye to fight off bacteria, fungi or parasites.
Sleeping in contact lenses, which creates a warm, moist environment for bacteria to grow.
Wearing contact lenses while swimming in lakes or pools where bacteria and parasites may be present.
How can I help my child learn healthy contact lens habits?
A few simple steps and routines can reduce the chances your child will develop serious eye problems from contact use.
Contact and eye care practices to help your child learn
- Wash hands with soap and water and dry thoroughly with a clean towel before touching your contacts.
- Don't sleep in your contacts unless your eye doctor approves you for extended-wear contacts.
- Keep your contacts away from water. This includes bottled, distilled or tap water, as well as lake, river or ocean water.
- Take your contacts out before swimming or hanging out in a pool or hot tub.
- Disinfect your lens case every day (or every time you store your lenses).
- Dry out the contact lens case with a clean tissue before refilling with fresh solution. (Never just "top off" the old solution in your lens case, since this can allow bacteria to linger and grow.)
- Never use saliva or plain water to clean, wet or store your lenses.
- Replace your lenses as often as your eye doctor recommends.
- Replace your lens case every 3 months or as often as your doctor recommends.
Should my child have glasses as a backup?
Since contact lenses can easily be lost or torn, it's smart to keep a pair of regular glasses on hand. This way, your child will be able to see well during school, sports practice or other activities while new lenses are on order.
More safety tips for kids who wear contacts
Pay attention to how your eyes feel.
Ask for help if you experience:
Eye pain or discomfort
Excess tearing or eye discharge
Unusual sensitivity to light
Itching, burning, swelling or grittiness
Blurred vision
Never share contact lenses.
Don't wear your friends' contacts or loan yours to anyone else. Sharing contact lenses can raise the chances of infections that can cause serious vision problems.
Don't wear cosmetic contact lenses.
Decorative contact lenses like those sold online during Halloween can harm your eyes. Only wear contact lenses prescribed and dispensed by your eyecare professional.
Protect your eyes when wearing contacts.
Wear sunglasses when in windy dusty conditions. Also, use protective eyewear with the contact lenses when participating in sports prone to eye injuries like racquetball, badminton, ice and field hockey.
More information
About Dr. Fredrick
 Douglas R. Fredrick MD, FAAP, a pediatric ophthalmologist with Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American College of Surgeons. He also serves on the Board of the American Orthoptic Council as President and Co-Chair of the Examination Committee. Within the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Fredrick is on the Executive Committee as Education Chair in the Section on Ophthalmology. Dr. Fredrick has served as volunteer faculty on more than 20 missions with Orbis, an international non-profit organization that improves access to eye care.
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