Contact lenses are a wonderful alternative to glasses for many people, and are especially popular among teenagers and young adults.
We are often asked if a child is “ready” to wear contacts, or what age is the appropriate one for children to start wearing them.
The answer to that question, like so many others, is that it depends on the individual. Some children as young as 8 or 9 wear contacts successfully, and some teenagers (and adults) are unable to do so.
After a complete eye exam, your ilumin ophthalmologist can tell you if your child’s eyes are medically safe to wear contacts, which is the case for the vast majority. The potential issue is taking care of the lenses properly, and the responsibility level of the wearer. Failure to care for lenses properly significantly increases the risk of eye infections, which can lead to permanent vision loss. While this is not as much of a problem as it once was in the past (especially with disposable lenses), the potential for vision threatening issues is always there.
Our ilumin ophthalmologists, technicians, and opticians can help you decide if contact lenses are right for you — or your child.
