How to Know if Contact Lenses Are Safe for Your Child

How to Know if Contact Lenses Are Safe for Your Child
One of the most common questions parents have about contact lenses and their children is: when is my child old enough to start wearing contact lenses? This guide will help you make the safest choice when it comes to your child’s eye health. 

While contact lenses offer an extremely convenient and effective vision correction alternative to traditional glasses, they also come with certain risks, such as a higher incidence of eye infections and dry eye. That’s why you have to be very careful when deciding to introduce your child to contact lenses. 

While most eye doctors encourage contact lens wear between 11-14 years of age, wearing lenses has less to do with your child’s age and more about whether your child is responsible enough to care for his/her lenses correctly. 

Without proper care, contact lens wear can lead to: 

  • Eye irritation 
  • Corneal abrasions 
  • Pink eye
  • Blurred vision
  • Swelling, pain, and discomfort 
Comprehensive Contact Lens Fittings For Patients of All Ages in Calgary

At Blink Eyewear, our optometrists offer comprehensive contact lens fittings for patients of all ages and we can help determine whether contact lenses or eyeglasses are the safest options for your child. 

Want to know more? 

CONTACT LENS GUIDE 

 

Is My Child Ready For Contact Lenses? Here’s How to Know 

Has your child begun to express an interest in wearing contact lenses? Then you know it’s time to book an appointment with a qualified optometrist. Before you do so, however, you must first think about how your child handles other responsibilities. 

Ask yourself if they: 

  • Practice good oral hygiene at home
  • Keep their room clean 
  • Finish their homework on time 
  • Follow through with household chores 

Why is this important? 

If your child demonstrates a responsible nature in all areas of his/her life, then they are likely to be good candidates for contact lenses. Children who require constant reminders to follow up on good hygiene practices, for example, will not be ready for the responsibility of wearing and caring for contact lenses properly. 

CHILD'S EYE CARE

Want to Read More? 

Signs of Vision Problems in Children

 

Are Contact Lenses a Safe Option For My Child? 

As parents, it’s natural to have concerns about the safety of contact lenses for your child, but you must rest assured that they are a perfectly safe and effective option for younger patients requiring vision correction. 

The Key Factor: Lenses MUST be cleaned regularly and stored properly to prevent the risk of infection or dry eye. 

However, you must also understand that: 

  • Adjusting to contact lenses takes patience and time, so your child must be fully committed to wearing them. 
  • Your child has to be responsible enough to clean their lenses at night. 
  • Contact lenses are designed to be comfortable, but your child shouldn’t overwear them. They can become dry at the end of the day, and should be removed as soon as possible when your child comes home from school. 

 

5 Benefits of Wearing Contact Lenses For Children 

If your optometrist has assessed your child and determined that contact lenses are a safe option for them, you should strongly consider allowing your child to wear them because they offer incredible benefits, such as: 

  • Better and clearer vision 
  • A wider field of vision than eyeglasses
  • They’re good for sports because they reduce the risk of injury due to shattered glasses
  • Enhanced peripheral vision, which improves performance in sports 
  • Enhanced self-esteem 

 

Call Today

To find out more about the cost and benefits of contact lenses, and how our optometrists can help determine if this is a safe and viable choice for your child, visit one of our three branches, Crowfoot (67 Crowfoot Terrace NW, T3G 4J8), West Springs (1009 873 85 St SW, T3H 0J5) or Creekside (12192 Symons Valley Rd NW, T3P 0A3).

Alternatively, you can contact our team at our Crowfoot Branch (403-547-5417), West Springs (403-242-0999) or Creekside (403-516-2292).

Contact Us Today! Book Online

Fill out the form below and we'll get back to you ASAP!

Blink Eyewear boasts the largest collection of eyewear in Calgary, but our 3 locations are also home to the region’s finest optometrists. Just as you will not find a better store to shop for your eyewear, you will not find a better vision clinic to do your eye exam or treat your eye condition. 

Go ahead and Blink; what you see is really what you get. Call one of our store numbers or fill out the form below to book an appointment.

TopLocationsBook OnlineShop NowContact Us
TopLocationsBook OnlineShop NowContact Us
Have questions? Call us today at:
1-403-516-2292
CALL US
Book Online