Children wearing contact lenses

A_Phoenix_of_Tangerine

Bella73 wrote: »

Having recently read the story in the paper of the lady losing an eye because of an eye infection from wearing lenses I wouldn't go near them but each to their own.

Tens of thousands of people wear contacts without losing an eye due to them - the story is in the paper because it is such an unusual and shocking occurrence. The key is to be careful, and stop wearing them if either eye is feeling irritated.

Cherry_Bomb

Bella73 wrote: »

Having recently read the story in the paper of the lady losing an eye because of an eye infection from wearing lenses I wouldn't go near them but each to their own.

I remember reading a story once where a guy was electrocuted using his electric toothbrush. Didn't stop me using mine but then again some people just like living on the edge eh

mishkanorman

would you not be better to find the reason for him not wanting to wear his glasses and address that rather than avoiding it ?

Having spent hours trying to teach young children who were 10/11/12 age range I would think a child of 6 would just not be mature enough to deal with something so important, hell my 7 year old has only just grasped that you need to wash your hands every time you visit the toilet not as you feel like it !

Cherry_Bomb

He's had them most of his life so it's not a case of getting him to wear them. It's all he's ever known. He's just getting sick of them but can't see without them! He says they annoy him in PE especially. We went a saw a 3D movie a couple of weeks ago but ended up having to leave because DS couldn't see properly. The 3D glasses wouldn't fit over his regular glasses. Even the adult sized pair didnt help.

If there's an alternative available (which obviously there is) them we're happy to look into it.

I'm not exactly going to let a 6 year old loose in charge of these lenses! Of course ll be in charge of them. But he's not a baby. He's more than capable of trying them out. If it doesn't work out then it doesn't work out. He'll have to stick with his glasses.

mishkanorman

Cherry_Bomb wrote: »

He's had them most of his life so it's not a case of getting him to wear them. It's all he's ever known. He's just getting sick of them but can't see without them! He says they annoy him in PE especially. We went a saw a 3D movie a couple of weeks ago but ended up having to leave because DS couldn't see properly. The 3D glasses wouldn't fit over his regular glasses. Even the adult sized pair didnt help.

If there's an alternative available (which obviously there is) them we're happy to look into it.

I'm not exactly going to let a 6 year old loose in charge of these lenses! Of course ll be in charge of them. But he's not a baby. He's more than capable of trying them out. If it doesn't work out then it doesn't work out. He'll have to stick with his glasses.

But thats the point i was making, if he isnt capable of being in charge of these lenses then he isnt ready for them and I would say wait.

Have you asked his school if they have a policy regarding them ?

Cherry_Bomb

mishkanorman wrote: »

But thats the point i was making, if he isnt capable of being in charge of these lenses then he isnt ready for them and I would say wait.

Have you asked his school if they have a policy regarding them ?

We'll see how the appointment goes. Had the optician recoiled in horror at the idea of sticking things in a 6 years old eyeball then I would absolutely have told DS he's got to wait. But apparently it's quite common nowadays. I'm not going to stop him trying in the basis he's not mature enough to take compete responsibility. I'm his mum. At this age that's what I'm for.

I did wonder about the school actually so ill speak to them tomorrow. That may put a stop to it completely so we will see.

GlasweJen

It certainly isn't common in my practice, in my area most children of this age are seen by the hospital eye service and we would be hung out to dry for prescribing lenses when HES have prescribed glasses.

We only have 1 child under 11 wearing lenses and they are hospital prescribed for a condition called keratoconus, our youngest fit to date was 11 years and 1 month and he gets them for playing rugby only.

Cherry_Bomb

GlasweJen wrote: »

It certainly isn't common in my practice, in my area most children of this age are seen by the hospital eye service and we would be hung out to dry for prescribing lenses when HES have prescribed glasses.

We only have 1 child under 11 wearing lenses and they are hospital prescribed for a condition called keratoconus, our youngest fit to date was 11 years and 1 month and he gets them for playing rugby only.

Just because something isn't common in your area doesn't mean it isn't common elsewhere!

He was discharged from hospital nearly 2 years ago. His prescription has been updated twice since then by specsavers. Not the hospital

miss_independent

I feel cheated! I was told I wasn't allowed to have them until I was 14 by two separate opticians. I really wanted them because I also had upper and lower braces for nearly 4 years so train track braces and glasses wasn't a good look. I started wearing contacts at 14 (just before the braces came off) but struggled with them, I found them uncomfortable until I switched to daily disposables.

I can't afford them right now so only wear them for special. My second cousin has worn them since he was about 9 but I don't know if I would have let him have them. I find them really fussy and potentially dangerous. I definitely would have got an infection if I'd had them any younger. Or worse give the recent stories about people going blind!

mishkanorman

Cherry_Bomb wrote: »

We'll see how the appointment goes. Had the optician recoiled in horror at the idea of sticking things in a 6 years old eyeball then I would absolutely have told DS he's got to wait. But apparently it's quite common nowadays. I'm not going to stop him trying in the basis he's not mature enough to take compete responsibility. I'm his mum. At this age that's what I'm for.

I did wonder about the school actually so ill speak to them tomorrow. That may put a stop to it completely so we will see.

So how much involvement are you expecting him to take ? do you wear contact lenses ?

I have seen many a fully grown adult fail to grasp how important care of the lenses and eyes are, even if an optician is happy to supply them the potential for long term problems brought on by decisions about your child that you are making for them is too greater risk IMHO,