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Contacts- how old should they be?

Sweet T's picture

This is not about asking the NCP to pay for anything.

At what age should you allow a responsible child who plays sports to try Contacts?

Bs will be 11, is going to be going into 6th grade in the fall, has good hand hygiene and plays baseball. He wears glasses and would like to try contacts. 

I do have to nag about showering at times.  I was thinking about saying if he showered every night without my riding his butt, I would agree  to contacts in the fall if his dad was okay with it.

I obviously will mention it to ex before I talk to bs again...if ex doesn't have to pay I don't think he will care.

Comments

Harry's picture

I would let my 9 yo wear dailies contacts. Dailies are good because each one comes packed and get thrown away at night. And not that mush more then weekly. 

simifan's picture

Contacts are helpful when it comes to sports. Although for a kid that young, i would go with daily throw aways. Not that much more expensive and it really keeps down the possibility of infection. 

strugglingSM's picture

Once a child is old enough to put contacts in and take them out on their one and also responsible enough to manage contacts themselves, they are old enough for contacts.

I would also recommend the dailies. I started with regular contacts, then moved to the two week contacts, and have worn dailies for the last 20 years. They are the most sanitary and also easy to store and transport.

beebeel's picture

I think I would wait until 13 or 14 or even later. Most optometrists don't recommend them for younger children because the risks don't outweigh the benefits (sports). When I was in 6th grade a girl permanently damaged her vision because of infections caused by improperly cared for contact lenses. 

You will have to be on his butt and super vigilant about him taking them out. If you still have to remind him to shower, it is too soon.

notsobad's picture

Go with dailies. They are so much easier to deal with. The cost isn’t much more than regular contacts and solutions. 

ESMOD's picture

I would go with the dailies but only allow him to wear them for the sport activity... he should wear his glasses the other parts of the day. 

DPW's picture

I got my first pair in grade 9 but that was a long, long, long time ago when they were $100+ per pair. Now with dailies, I would probably allow my child to wear them in grade 7 or 8, providing they could show responsibility at taking care of themselves.

justmakingthebest's picture

I was in the 5th grade when I started wearing contacts... that was back in the days before disposables! They were so expensive and my parents made a really big deal about my birthday and everything. I did fine with them. In high school we swtiched to disposables and life was sooo much easier. Now I wear daily wears. LOVE THEM. 

My SS13 has had them since 10-11... I wouldn't think it would be a big deal. If he is responsible, go for it! Worst case scenario he loses them before the month or 3 months or whatever is up and he has to go back to his glasses. But if you don't give him a chance to prove himself he can't show you that he can handle it. 

Cover1W's picture

I started wearing contacts wayyyyyy back in the olden days of the 1980s, I was around 15 or 16?  Had to learn to take care of them - my mom made me wait until I was 16 but I wanted them sooner (I have very, very bad vision and back then they didn't have the thin lenses).  No idea why that age was in her head as I was super responsible.  Of course my sister was allowed to get them at a younger age which really made me mad.  BUT with the daily wears they have now, if the kid is responsible, keeps clean, showers w/out asking, washes hands properly w/out someone monitoring, can put in eyedrops themselves (rewetting drops are needed usually) then great.  The optometrist should also be able to determine this as they will have to practice at the doctor's office.  Daily wear need no cleaning or storage, wear then throw away.  They are fantastic and comfortable, esp. for sports and outdoor activities. 

Thumper's picture

Never.  (add: my sister was 16 when she was allowed to have contacts...kazillion years ago)

The trouble and risks out way it for me.

But you know your boy better than we do. Follow your gut and remember when in doubt DO nothing.