Theoretically, kids of just about any age can wear contacts as long as they can handle the responsibility of cleaning them, caring for them, and wearing them according to an eye care professional’s instructions. But ultimately, the “best” age for contact lenses is up to a parent or guardian with guidance from an eye care professional.
So, how do you know when contact lenses are appropriate for your kid? We’ll walk you through the reasons kids get contact lenses and the factors to consider when deciding whether or not they’re ready for them. Then, we’ll give you tips for contact lens safety and explain how to get contact lenses for kids.
Can Kids Wear Contacts? Benefits of Contacts for Kids
Yes, they can, and they do! Kids (like adults) will often switch between contacts and eyeglasses for vision correction, depending on where they are and what they’re doing.
Some common benefits of contacts for kids include:
- Better peripheral vision: Contact lenses offer a wider range of eyesight, including better peripheral vision, than glasses.
- Sports: Contacts can give kids the ability to move around freely without worrying about glasses falling off or getting broken from impact.
- Myopia management: Wearing specialized contact lenses, like MiSight® 1 Day Contacts from CooperVision®, can slow the progression of myopia (nearsightedness) in children.
- Cosmetic purposes: Like adults, kids may prefer the bare-face look, and being without glasses could boost their self-esteem. Kids may also wish to change their eye color with colored contacts.
When Can Kids Wear Contacts? Questions to Consider
The minimum age for contacts depends on the person and the situation. Some kids can get contacts as young as 8 years old or younger (even age 6 or 7 in some cases).
This being said, your eye doctor may not recommend contacts for a child until age 12 or later. The risks of younger children wearing contacts, especially at a very young age, might outweigh the benefits. (We’ll get to those risks in a bit.)
How do you know whether a kid is a good candidate for contact lenses? Let’s take a look at some questions to consider:
Are they responsible?
A kid who is mature and independent with their current tasks might be more ready for contacts. Signs of responsibility can include things like getting ready for school without help, doing homework thoroughly and on time, and taking great care of belongings like their glasses (as in not leaving them under a pile of junk).
Do they have good hygiene?
Kids who generally keep themselves and their surroundings clean (i.e., the type to put the toothpaste cap back on) may be more likely to properly care for their contact lenses. Even if a kid wears daily disposable lenses, which we’ll talk about a little later, they’ll need to follow cleanliness protocols for putting them in and taking them out.
Do they follow directions?
Wearing contact lenses requires that kids follow directions from their doctors. These directions include how long to wear the contact lenses, when to replace lenses, and when not to wear them at all.
Are they not squeamish about eyes?
To wear contacts, a kid needs to be okay with touching parts of their eyes. Wearing contact lenses involves handling eyelids, putting contacts on the surface of the eye, and removing them.
Risks of Wearing Contacts
So, what could happen if a kid wears contact lenses before they’re ready? Truth is, these risks exist for anyone who wears contacts, no matter their age. But kids may be more at risk because of the level of maturity required to adhere to proper preventive lens care and wear practices.
The main risks of wearing contacts range from mildly pesky eye conditions to potentially dangerous eye health issues, including:
Safety Tips for Kids’ Contacts
To avoid eye issues in kids who wear contact lenses, be sure they follow their eye doctor’s instructions for contact lens and eye safety. Doctors usually recommend these actions:
- Never wear contacts without a prescription from an eye doctor, including novelty or “decorative” lenses as part of a costume.
- Follow the contact lens wear schedule your doctor recommends.
- Don’t sleep, swim, bathe, or shower with your contacts in.
- Keep water or saliva away from your contact lenses.
- Clean your contact lenses as directed by your eye doctor.
- Only use eye drops and lens solution suggested by your eye doctor.
- Practice good hygiene, like always washing hands before handling contact lenses.
- Avoid sharing contacts, lens solution, contact cases, or eye drops.
- Wear safety eyewear over your contacts during sports.
- Stop wearing contacts if an eye is irritated.
- Carry a pair of glasses to wear in case you need to take out your contacts.
How and Where to Get Kids’ Contact Lenses
The first step in getting contacts for kids is to make an eye appointment with an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Be sure to specify that you’d like a contact lens eye exam for kids, which is often an add-on to a regular comprehensive eye exam.
During the exam, your eye doctor will discuss potential reasons to get contacts for your child. If appropriate, the doctor will schedule training to teach your child how to put in and remove the contact lenses safely. After the training, they’ll write a contact lens prescription, including the type of contact lenses that best fits the child’s needs and lifestyle.
Consider Daily Disposable Contacts for Kids
Eye doctors often recommend daily disposable contact lenses for kids who wear contacts. These contacts are worn for a day and then thrown out. When worn correctly, daily disposable contacts eliminate some of the contact lens care steps that monthly contact lenses require. This, in turn, can reduce the risk of eye complications related to poor lens hygiene.
Cost of Contact Lenses: Another Factor To Consider
Another factor to consider when weighing whether or not to get kids contact lenses is the cost.
The cost of contact lenses usually varies depending on the type of lens, such as whether they are daily or monthly-wear lenses. The vision problems the lenses would correct can come into play as well. For instance, toric contacts for astigmatism or multifocal contacts to correct refractive errors at multiple distances may have a higher price than single-vision contacts.
Here’s one money-saving hint: You can get 20% off your first order of contacts at Warby Parker, automatically, as well as take advantage of manufacturer rebate offers.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Get Contacts? Ask An Eye Doctor
Need more help figuring out if your child is at the right age for contacts? With any issue that involves the eyes, it’s best to bring your child to an eye doctor for medical advice and guidance. And remember, contacts or not, keeping up with regular eye exams will help protect a child’s eye health.
