How old to wear contact lenses?

Snaggles

I had contact lenses from my mid teens (can't remember exactly what age but would guess 14-ish). It changed my life - I hated being the kid with glasses, freckles and wonky teeth (oh I was blessed lol!). Still got the freckles (love them) and the wonky teeth (hate them) but the contact lenses made a huge difference to how I felt as a teenager.

MadMonkey

I started wearing lenses when i was 11 - i hated glasses.

I am now 32 and still wearing lenses.

If my tiddley peeps need glasses I will get them lenses from 9 upwards if they want them.

MATH

I am quite shocked at the young age some kids are wearing contacts. I don't know why I find it shocking or why I wouldn't allow my children to do it, but I do! LOL Personally I wouldn't consider any of my kidz try them before 13-14yrs old. Fortunately none of them need to wear glasses so the issue hasn't arrisen.

I have needed glasses all my life and wore contacts for yonks, changeing design as technology moved on. The first pair I had was sooo long ago I think they may have been stained glass:rotfl: I never considered them uncomfortable or a problem and if anyone would ask me what they felt like I'd say "fine I don't know I am wearing them" However, having finally giving them up because I couldn't be bothered with the fuss no more I now realise the low level discomfort I lived with day in, day out, for two decades. I wouldn't go back to them. Also wearing contacts all the time spoils the fun or dateing old photos by the spec style of the day LOL.:D Some of the early 80's ones has me looking like the scary love child of Timmy Mallett and Deidre Barlow:eek: I'm not saying the frames were big but one had the lenses dressed with Austrian blinds and a pot plant:rotfl:

Bennifred

Two of my boys wear contact lenses - one started at 14 (short-sighted) and one at 12 (astygmatic). They wear the type that you wear for two weeks, daytime only, then throw out. We have a contract with a local optician at £22 and £25.50 per month, this covers all lenses, solutions and 6-monthly checks, plus any spares etc. They also still have to have specs for the "rest" days/in case of infection etc, so it certainly isn't a cheap option, but they are both so much happier wearing contacts that it's worth it, IMO. It also means that they can wear non-prescription sunglasses/swimming goggles, so bit of a saving there!

Sugar_Coated_Owl

I started wearing contact lenses at 16. I didn't even know you could wear them before 16 so I've learnt something new today

divadee

i still wear glasses, sorry to go off topic but how much roughly would it cost for me to have disposible lenses?

i would love to not wear glasses and buy presciption sunglasses but always thought contact lenses were really expensive!!!

Horasio

I got mine at 16 and you had to look after them - very precious and didn't have disposables like today. I could have had them since I was 14 but couldn't afford them.

My son has monthly disposables and worn them since he was 12 - they are much cheaper these days.

borderlakland

divadee wrote: »

i still wear glasses, sorry to go off topic but how much roughly would it cost for me to have disposible lenses?

i would love to not wear glasses and buy presciption sunglasses but always thought contact lenses were really expensive!!!

thats why i started with contacts fed up with losing prescription sunglasses and having to take usual glasses as well i can now buy cheep ordinary sunglasses.even though you can get them cheaper online i would recommend specsavers they do free trial to find out which sort you like,i tried about 5 different sorts,their aftercare is excellent they do loads of different packages i use the daily disposables and i can change my package as i need if you only wear them occasionally you can have about 15 pairs a month up2 full 30 days a month.they send them threw the post.i also get a booklet of deals like half price sunglasses cheaper glasses etc.

sticher

My son keeps asking about contacts - he is 10 but says he is teased at school. I think I will look into it further, but will suggests he waits until his eyes are a bit more mature.

Jay - my son had glasses since he was 18 months old (bless him) - you just have to persevere with keeping them on. You can get those that go right round the ear to help, but we were always getting them repaired lol.

Lillibet_2

I started wearing contact lenses at 15, the day & night ones which you sleep in for 6 days then throw away & have 12 hours "break" (overnight) then put a fresh pair in. I am still wearing the same type & brand 17 years later, no problems & never looked back. I would think a mature 11 year old could cope with them, it did take me a good 6 months to get used to putting them in/taking out & those days were horrible for me and there were a few wasted pairs due to tearing etc whilst I learnt how to do it, but I really wanted to wear them & I perserved. Self confidence is priceless at any age but even more so at school.

I now buy mine online for £66 for 3 months supply, however for a child I personally would absoutely insist on 3 monthly check ups with the optician, as I had until I was 22, so with the cost of the extra check ups it would probably work out more expensive but more economical to get the lenses through the optician as this usually includes the cost of the extra check ups. Don't go through one of the big hgh street chains as they have policies written in stone, go for a local chain or indepndent who can meet your needs. You should make this about healthcare 1s & price 2nd IMHO.

Good luck;)