Vision problems can adversely impact your child’s learning and development. That’s because vision skills— like focusing the eyes and using information gathered from sight—don’t come naturally to children. They need to be learned through visual stimulation.
To correct vision problems, optometrists would usually recommend prescription eyeglasses. But what about contact lenses? Are they suitable for children? The short answer is yes, provided your child is between the ages of 8 to 11. In fact, in the US, four million children under the age of 18 wear contacts.
Eyes on Norbeck, your trusted optometrist, elaborates further below:
What Studies Show About Contact Use Among Children
A recent study has found that 90 percent of the nearsighted kids that were fitted with contacts had no problem applying or removing disposable contacts by themselves.
Why Wear Contacts Instead of Eyeglasses?
Wearing contacts has several advantages for active kids. For starters, you won’t have to worry about the eyeglass frames breaking and possibly causing eye injury. And since certain contacts, particularly gas-permeable contacts, offer better optics than eyeglasses, there may be significant improvements in your child’s sports performance.
Ortho-K Lenses and Correcting Nearsightedness
Some kids wear contacts not only because it’s more convenient, but also because they have refractive errors that need to be corrected. Orthokeratology (or ortho-k) is a form of treatment that uses specially designed gas permeable contact lenses to control the progression of myopia or nearsightedness in children.
Important note: Before making a decision on whether your child should wear contacts, you should consider certain factors, like how your child handles day-to-day responsibilities. If your child needs to be reminded about their daily responsibilities, like cleaning up their room, you might want to think twice before allowing them to use contacts. To learn more about the pros and cons of wearing contacts, it’s best to consult a local optometrist.
Looking for optometrists near you?
Eyes on Norbeck offers professional eye care and computer vision exam services. To schedule an appointment, call us at (301) 238-7199 or fill out this form. We serve homeowners in Potomac, MD, as well as the surrounding communities.
