Contact lenses for kids

[Jeff]

My daughter is active in sports and wears glasses which is not ideal. Couple that with the fact we live in Phoenix and prescription sunglasses are not the best, how young is too young for contact lenses?

[RickM]

I would say as long as the child can be responsible enough to hygienically handle the lenses and insert/remove them from their eyes.

Modern lenses are relatively inexpensive, very comfortable and stay put, unlike their predecessors.

[cgarr]

My kids have been in them for years now, 15 and 17 yo's Started when they were about 10, my sons eyes were getting so bad they suggested contacts as it helps stop the eyes getting worse, and it did, he has not had an Rx change for many years. They are both in swimming and water polo with the contacts without any problems, maybe a lost lens from time to time but thats it.

[Jeff]

Thanks guys. My daughter will be able to handle the responsibility/ hygienic part without a problem.
Craig, good to hear that the lenses may stop the progression of her sight issues.

[Porsche_monkey]

My 14 year old has them. If he can do it anyone can.

[charlesbahn]

I fit 10 - 11 year olds as long as they and their parents understand the importance of good hygiene and the increased risk of infections, etc. They must also exhibit the ability to handle the lenses without scratching the cornea, etc.

Charles

[Sapporo Guy]

I've been wearign hard contacts since 1990 and I think that my Rx has only degraded slightly. At times I thought it had stablized for a while.

As for infections. Yes, be careful. I had to go to hard lenses because of bad infection. I miss the comfort and easy of use of softlenses but .. the trade off has been good.

What about disposables?

[charlesbahn]

The soft lens market is now 99% disposable. It's a good thing. The lenses are very good and quality control among the major manufacturers has not been a problem.