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Original poster

anyones young teens wear contact lenses?

22 replies

SparklyGothKat · 17/07/2009 23:09

Ds1 is 11 now and I know that he would prefer contact lenses, but wondering if anyone's child wears them and if they find them ok? tia

OP posts:

ChasingSquirrels · 17/07/2009 23:13

i had them from around 12.

Original poster

SparklyGothKat · 17/07/2009 23:14

how did you find them? Ds1 is forever breaking his glasses, and contact lenses seem like a better option

OP posts:

mrsmaidamess · 17/07/2009 23:17

My dd is 13 and has daily disposables. I don't think she could be trusted to clean a pair everyday so we went for the more expensive option. We went to Specsavers!

nancy75 · 17/07/2009 23:18

i wore them from about that age, never had a problem and that was back in the days when you had to clean them every morning and night and fiddle about with soloutions and stuff, get disposable they are a doddle.

Mousey84 · 17/07/2009 23:19

I had them from about 13 - much better when it came to sports etc.

Original poster

SparklyGothKat · 17/07/2009 23:20

how much are they? DS1 has cerebral palsy but is able, but as he falls still, his glasses fall off and break.

OP posts:

mrsmaidamess · 17/07/2009 23:21

I think we pay about £15 a nmonth. they get delivered in 3 month quantities.

Original poster

SparklyGothKat · 17/07/2009 23:22

does the NHS cover them at all? Can you tell I am new to this? lol

OP posts:

ChasingSquirrels · 17/07/2009 23:24

tbh I didn't keep them clean enough all the time, and as a result have a number of tiny blood vessels in my eyes that have ruptured.
When I was at uni my optician recommended dailies when I could afford them, and that is what I now have.

No idea re HNS, would presume not though.

mrsmaidamess · 17/07/2009 23:25

I don't think they are covered by NHS, not like glasses, unless there's a medical reason why they HAVE to have lenses.

nancy75 · 17/07/2009 23:25

about £15-20 per month, do you get the glasses vouchers for him? i think you can use these towards lenses instead, but i might be wrong. you would still need a pair of glasses for him.
my dad has glasses that are bendy and supposed to be indestructable (he is a very clumsy man) might be worth looking at but were probably expensive.

Original poster

SparklyGothKat · 17/07/2009 23:25

just googled it, lenses are not available on the NHS. But will take DS1 over to D&A and see what they say. I have to pick up a new pair of glasses as he broke his last pair

OP posts:

swedesinsunglasses · 17/07/2009 23:27

My son is 17 now and he's worn soft daily disposables, (he uses the Johnson & Johnson ones) since he was 11. Firstly for sport and special occasions and since about 15/16 almost always.

They've been great.

Original poster

SparklyGothKat · 17/07/2009 23:28

Ds1 has the 'twister' glasses which are supposed to be unbreakable but when he put them in his shoe while swimming and then put his foot with his splint on into said shoe, well you can imagine the state of the glasses afterwards lol...

OP posts:

swedesinsunglasses · 17/07/2009 23:29

I've just checked and we pay £19 per month and they are v good at giving him regular check ups to make sure his eyes are coping ok with the lenses.

Original poster

SparklyGothKat · 17/07/2009 23:32

thats great tahnks ladies.. defo.will investigate further, DS1 asked when he was younger and they said not till he was about 12, but figured that the summer hols would be a good time to start

OP posts:

nancy75 · 17/07/2009 23:34

SparklyGothKat , my dad put his on the roof of the car, then got in the car, drove off and managed to run the glasses over, suprisingly they didnt survive either!

pickyvic · 17/07/2009 23:52

for kids the daily disposables are great. no hygiene issues as there is nothing to clean - just start each day with a new pair then bin them.

would not ever recommend for kids under 13 or so.

kids under 16 or under 19 in full time education can use their optical voucher against the cost of lenses BUT its often worth more to use them agains specs....long winded explanation which i will go into if anyone really really wants it....

but best to get back up specs on voucher and pay for CL.

any specific questions ill be happy to help...

Original poster

SparklyGothKat · 17/07/2009 23:57

why would you not recommend them for under 13s? Ds1 is very mature for his age and i know he wouldn't get them if he wasn't ready so will discuss it with D&A and him

OP posts:

pickyvic · 18/07/2009 00:17

a few reasons...

depends on how big the eye actually is as to the comfort and ease of getting them in/out

also hygiene issues. lenses are quite fiddly and need to be looked after and they all require a good standard of hygiene.

the youngest we have fitted have been about 12 for those reasons - its nothing to do with maturity really, more about comfort and hygiene issues.
if you are not great with your lenses your are asking for trouble. corneal ulcers are extremely painful and can threaten sight. so many kids sleep in their lenses etc and dont realise what they are doing. its fine for kids as long as they understand what they are doing and follow the recommendations.

pickyvic · 18/07/2009 00:18

oh and follow up appointments are a must. regular check ups are really important to check the comfort etc and make sure the lenses are doing no damage to the eye.

StillOverHere · 18/07/2009 03:38

Yes, my ten year old has worn them for about six months. We consulted a specialist pediatric ophthalmologist attached to a hospital and she assessed suitability and recommended a one month trial period. This was a huge success and it has been a really positive experience! She uses the two week disposables. Good luck!

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