Is Your Child Ready To Switch Out Their Eyeglasses For Contacts?
If your child has eyeglasses, then they have probably been begging you for contacts. However, as a parent, you are worried about letting them make that switch. Is it safe? Are they ready? These are common and appropriate questions to have. One study suggests that contacts are good for children as young as eight years old. Keep reading to learn signs of readiness and why it may be a good change for your child.
Signs Your Child Is Ready to Upgrade Their Eye Wear
One of the most important things that your child must do is take care of themselves. If they do not do this, then they are simply not ready for contacts. They need to take care of their personal hygiene and they also need to have a solid dedication to each one of their responsibilities, including those at home and school. Contacts will require regular cleaning, proper handling and appropriate storage. If you don't feel like you can count on your child to be responsible with their contacts, then it isn't a good time to consider an upgrade.
The good thing about letting your child make the switch to contacts from eyeglasses while they're young is the fact that they haven't formed bad habits, such as improperly using the contact lens solution or over-wearing the lenses. As your child gets older, they will begin to form bad habits and those habits may eventually cause problems with their contacts.
Why You Should Consider the Change
One of the most important reasons that you should consider allowing your child to trade in their eyeglasses for a pair of contact lenses is their improved confidence. Eyeglasses can often put a dent in your child's social life. They may be teased and called names like "four-eyes." By allowing your child to switch to contacts, you are helping them automatically build their self-confidence.
In addition, if your child tends to participate in physical activities, then eyeglasses can get in the way. This is especially true when running since the glasses won't remain stable. Contacts, however, will never move, despite how much movement your child is making. Therefore, contact lenses may actually help your child's performance in a variety of physical activities and sports.
Further, if you constantly find yourself replacing your child's eyeglasses with new ones due to loss or damage, then it may be a good choice for you to allow the upgrade. Contacts are less likely to be lost or misplaced. Although they can be misplaced or damaged, there is a much greater chance of this happening with eyeglasses -- especially, again, if your child is athletic.
To determine if your child is truly ready to switch to contacts from eyeglasses, you should consider all of the above. You should also weigh the pros and cons of the eyeglasses and the contacts. For your and your child's individual situation, the time may not be right for an upgrade. However, if you are unsure, you can always speak to your local eye doctor, who can help you determine what the best choice may be.
