Kids and Contact Lenses: How Young is too Young?

Thanks to technological, medical and cosmetic advances in contact lenses, more children are wearing contact lenses at younger ages. Dr. Kimberly Friedman, who practices in Moorestown, New Jersey, has noticed a significant shift in the ages of her first time contact lens wearers.

Dr. Friedman recalls that when she finished school in the early 90's, it seemed as if the average starting age for contact lenses was closer to 13. Now it is not uncommon to see 10 or even 9 year olds coming in for contact lenses.

Children may benefit from contact lens wear more often than we think. Children often want contacts for many of the same reasons adults do, including appearance, comfort and improved vision.

One of the most frequent questions optometric physicians get asked by parents, "Is my child old enough to wear contact lenses?"

According to Dr. Friedman, President of the New Jersey Society of Optometric Physicians, there is no one answer to this question for it really depends on the child. Physically, the eyes can tolerate lenses at a very young age. In fact, some babies are even fitted with contact lenses due to conditions present at birth. Contact lenses are designed to fit each individual, no matter what age, so fitting your child should be no more difficult than fitting an adult.

For children interested in contact lenses before their teens, both the parents and the children will have to learn about the responsibility of cleaning and caring for contact lenses. However, Dr. Friedman recommends that a prescription for contact lenses cannot be finalized until the child displays the maturity and understanding to care for their lenses independently, as the parents may not always be present when the child needs to remove or insert a contact lens.