Contact lenses for teenagers - any reason why not?

[doglover]

Both our dds (nearly 14 and nearly 13) are very shortsighted and have worn glasses for several years. They have recently mentioned having contact lenses but I'm unsure if this is deemed ok for children of their age. Any thoughts etc welcomed. They have optician appointments next week where we'll obviously discuss the issue fully. TIA.

I had mine from 12, it was wonderful!

Just drum into them the importance of proper hygiene ..... wash hands, clean exactly as the instructions etc !

Of course they can! My nephew got his contacts when he was 11. Much more cost-effective than all the pairs of glasses he broke/lost.

My husband had them at 12yrs old a looooonnng time ago. It transformed his life as he was able to participate in sport. It improved his self esteem and allowed him to really blossom as a teenage. He's eternally grateful to his parents for pushing for them when he was so young. He'd still be hiding behind his bottle bottoms NHS specs otherwise

had mine from about 13 great too! dd 9years recently got some as she plays a lot of sport and she's managing just fine.

go for it! in my case boosted my confidence no end.

I got mine at 14... So I've been wearing them for 25 years.

Make sure they go on a plan so that they have annual contact lens check. Make sure they clean them and store them properly.

I'm on a fortnightly lens replacement plan, so in theory they can't get too dirty and used until they're thrown away.

Do not let them wear them in the shower or bath, do not let them clean them with anything other than the solutions they're supposed too.

That's it really.

I desperately wanted them from 13 onwards an they made my teenage years better because I didn't have to wear thick glasses.

Thanks for the comments. Exactly my sentiments re self esteem etc. Yes, the hygiene issue will be of upmost importance!

Should be fine, as long as they are responsible enough to observe hygiene rules, remember to take them out at night etc.

I had them from 12 and love them!

I have old school hard lenses (makes me feel old at just 28!) but love them and wouldn't switch. Eyes are too poor for laser so this is next best option.

I was 15 I think. Transformed my life!

I now wear the 30 day, all day all night lenses and they are fab. No need to take them out at all. I do maybe once a week, give the an hr or so in th pot of solution and pop them back in! I can read the alarm clock if a wake thigh the night instead of having to fumble for my specs.

I recommend them 100%

The main thing is that they can handle the hygiene, and that they want them (not you).

If there's a clinical downside, the optometrist won't prescribe them.

They can be expensive. My DS has a monthly disposable plan which includes all the solutions. You can't claim these on the NHS, but they will still need glasses which should be free on the NHS.

I am with specsavers monthly ones for £13 and this includes free glasses :)
Might be worth considering!

Oh yeah sorry of course glasses free anyway ! Oops !

Absolutely, AMS, the impetus has definitely come from them. I can understand their desire to have contact lenses and would support them if they choose to go down this route.

My dd has had them since she was 12, massively boosted her confidence

I've had mines since 10/11, they are amazing.

Will say though, as a teenager I would be forgetful and as a result have a few scars on my eyes from falling asleep with them and ending up with them stuck in my eyes.

I now use day/night lenses where you can keep them in for a month and sleep with them in, they have been brilliant, no problems and my eyes don't feel as dry as they did at the end of the day when I wore dailies/monthlies and no worries about falling asleep with them. They are also good for people who don't like putting them in and taking them out every day.

I think they are about £12 a month from Specsavers. You don't need to keep them in all the time btw.

Just noticed Glakit already suggested them! They really are brilliant. :) And YY to being able to see all the time, it's as if I don't actually have a bad sight problem!

Many thanks for all these comments. The day/night lenses sound AMAZING! will definitely investigate further ......................

My dd got hers at 16- but I only agreed if she had daily disposables. I don't think most adults could be trusted to look after them properly- far less a teenager gong out to parties and so on.

I was about 14 and it changed my life.

There are some eye specialists who have concerns about then lenses you wear all the time- I would do some research before you went down that route,not be honest.

I like daily disposables - I had them before getting my eyes lasered.

You only use them on the days when you wear them (obviously), so they are a good option for someone who only wants to use contacts occasionally, say at weekends.

There are no solutions required.

I do think the options for teens are really in the domain of the optometrist. They will not necessarily offer every technology available to every patient.

Are there seeker? I really researched before getting them and found very little in the way of negative results. Much less than the laser treatment I was also contemplating.

I'd be interested to read anything you have seen. Genuinely.

DS got his at 11 mainly for his two passions, rugby and ballet, neither of which are easy if wearing glasses. Has changed his life and saved me a fortune in lost/broken specs. He uses the daily disposable ones so less worries about hygiene issues.

Optician said thatcchildren's eyes are actually more suited to lenses than adults as they are more moist.

Good luck!

Ps he doesn't need to wear them everyday only on the days he has sport or can't find his specs