How old to wear contact lenses?

jamjar,

My 11 year old daughter has needed glasses for distance for 18 months, and is asking about contact lenses. Does anyone have any experience of children using them?

Hapless_2

Firstly I would ask why she wanted them. do her friends have them? Is it a case of vanity over practicality?
There is no minimum age limit for contact lenses, but is she prepared to clean them etc. incorrectly cleaned contacts can cause serious eye problems, even blindness.
there is also a big cost involved with the solutions etc and she will still need glasses as back up only contacts OR glasses would come under the NHS, not both. NHS voucher would only cover first stock of disposible lenses (£32 worth), not 2 yrs worth. Daily lenses can be up to £25 for 6 months.
Have you asked whether they would be suitable for wearing to school (PE)? Risk of losing one etc.

Js_Other_Half

My eldest niece has been wearing disposables on occasion from just before being 9 - her opthalmologist has some bright six year olds on them!
As they are disposable there are no issues around losing them, cleaning them etc.

hth

pusscat

I started wearing rigid gas permeable lenses at the age of about 12 or so - these are far more work than disposables and I never had any problems with them at all.....

My Step son has worn disposables since the age of about 11 or so - again with no issues (apart from him loosing them etc!)

Puss
xx

jamjar,

Thanks for your replies.
She would have them for practical reasons, she swims and does a lot of PE at school. We would have the disposable type, so no problems with losing them or cleaning solutions.
I think I will make an appointment for the optician, then I know I have seen posts on MSE for mail order lenses which are considerably cheaper.

scooby2sue

Hi. my son is 14 and got his first pair 2 weeks ago, they can only wear them for 10 hours a day, and he can only wear them for 5 days a week because his eyes are still developing. The downside is he has torn one of his lenses because it takes them a few trys to get them in so it is all wear and tear on the lense. I can see this being very expensive lol. They can't wear them in the shower or in the swimming baths and they do a cleaning solution now that does it all so you don't have to rinse them or anything like that.

u2nick79

I got my contacts in 1995 when I was 16 - the opticians advised not to wear them before as your eyes are still growing/changing.

I am now 28 and have been wearing them for 12 years. Not, I might add, the same pair!

JAY

my little grandson has just been diagnosed as having quite severe long sight, he is three yrs old and my daughter is beside herself with worry as to just how will he keep glasses on, has anyone ever heard of one so young having contact lens?
He was born at 26 weeks and the optomerist sees this as a contributary factor, he's now a very active robust little boy we are pleased to say.

purplepatch

pusscat wrote: »

I started wearing rigid gas permeable lenses at the age of about 12 or so - these are far more work than disposables and I never had any problems with them at all.....

Me too, gas permeables at the same age. All that breaking your eyes in, wearing them for an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening and gradually extending wearing times and it felt like you'd put a piece of gravel in each eye!

I'd imagine these days with soft lenses it must be an absolute doddle. Also disposable lenses removes the need for daily cleaning so no worries about hygiene and looking after them properly etc.

Honestly, youngsters these days, they don't know they're born... :rotfl:

OP - other than the cost to your pocket obviously, I would go for it if that's what your daughter wants to do - I was much happier wearing lenses than specs during those teenage years - mainly a vanity thing I admit

Nicki

Unless something has changed radically in the last few years, she should not use her lenses while swimming. This is because the chemicals and contamination in the pool will adhere to the lens and react with it, and can cause very serious and untreatable eye infections, which may result in permanent loss of sight. I know this from a legal case I was involved in a few years ago where I was given sight of the research data and saw some horrific photos of those who had suffered this fate. If she is unable to see well enough to navigate around the pool a far better and safer solution is to wear prescription goggles.

For other uses, if she is sensible and responsible, I can't see the problem with wearing daily disposables provided you can afford them, you know she will wash her hands before putting them in and taking them out, and you can trust her not to over-wear them. I personally wouldn't go down the mail order route as she will need very regular checks by the optician to ensure her eyes are healthy (much more regular than standard eye tests) and at her age I would almost expect the optician to be giving her a quick check every time she orders new lenses.

jo1967

I wear Day & Night contacts - one pair a month & you sleep in them too, they are ace!! But I think probably not ideal for a growing youngster.

The main thing to remember is regular check ups, anything untoward will be picked up asap.