Teens and parents: what age for contacts instead of glasses?

Question

I hear a lot about eye infections, and I don't want to risk what eyesight my daughter actually has, but her prescription is so severe that even the featherlight lenses for her glasses are really thick. Her eye doctor has recommended getting her contacts, but I'm on the fence. She is a very responsible 13 year old - she sets her alarm clock in the summer so she can get up in the morning to do her chores before everyone else gets up and gets in her way. I'm pretty sure she could handle the responsibility, but I would like to know if anyone out there has contacts or has a child with contacts and will tell me a little bit about their experiences with them.

Answer 1

My sister was 13 and she did fine when she first began wearing contacts. No infections, no problems - also responsible, she is now an algebra professor!
With my kids, I would allow my 16 yr old and my 14 yr old to have contacts. My 12 yr old isn't quite there yet - if she needed them, I wouldn't allow it - I still have to remind her to brush her teeth! However, her 9 yr old brother would do great, as young as he is! This boy gets up early to do his chores, without being asked as well.
Each child is different - yours sounds like she'll be fine! Just remind her and have the eye dr tell her too - wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands!

Answer 2

My parents allowed me to wear contacts about that age also. I think I might have been entering the 7th or 8th grade. I had the same problem, really thick lenses and I was self conscious of them. Contact will help with self esteem.

The infections, stay away from day/night contacts (the contacts you wear 24 hours a day). The Ada approved them, but they cause ulcers on the eye and other infections. I use dailies, they work great, you have a fresh pair to put in every morning. I used to wear the pair you could use for 2 weeks, they are also just as good as the daily kind, but just make sure she is taking proper care of them and cleaning them the way they are supposed to be cleaned. Also, discard them after the 2 weeks is up and put in a new pair. Make sure you tell her just because she has contacts she can't abandon her glasses, it is healthy for your eyes to have 'breathing' time each day. Either wake up and put them in a few hours after she has been awake or take them out a few hours before bed time and read or watch TV with her glasses. It will keep her eyes healthy. Good Luck!

Answer 3

I'm sixteen and I began wearing contacts when I was thirteen for sports safety. I was playing soccer at the time and I had been hit in the face with glasses on. Luckily, the lenses didn't shatter, but my glasses were bent and I had a small cut on my face. I love having contacts. They are so much more comfortable than my glasses (no more headaches from the glasses resting on the bridge of my nose!) and they're pretty easy to take care of. Now addressing your questions about how old your daughter needs to be before getting contacts, it really depends on the individual. If she's mature enough to stick with a cleaning regimen, (ie- rinsing contacts on both sides for 5 seconds before putting on or storing in case, and changing the pair every two weeks) then I would say, go for it! Good luck! have a wonderful day.

Answer 4

Well, first of all it is probably a wise choice to trust your doctor; considering they make a proffession in this kind of stuff. Yet it is perfectly wise for you to be on the fence about this, because having contacts is a big responsibility, and can result in infections and whatnot.

An important thing to remember is that there is not only one type of contact. They have specialized types and brands for people who need hypo-allergenic lenses, or people who need a sensitive solution. So talking to a local eye specialist or your doctor can help to determine if your daughter would be better off with this kind. This way you might be able to avoid eye-infections.

Several friends have contacts, and I have seen the problems of:
- Losing them all the time and continuing to have to buy pair after pair over again.
-Contacts ripping (which can be painful or iritating to the eye)

But your daughter seems responsible enough to take care of her self, and 13 is an age where she will probably desire you to trust her more than ever and give her more freedom.

Hope that helps, and best of luck to you.

Answer 5

Wow, your daughter is great for waking up early and doing chores. Since it's the summer, I wake up at 9:30 or 10 o' clock! I think you should definitely get her contacts. I got contacts when I was 12. My parents were worried at first, but when the doctor and the technician explained everything, they were reassured. Once you get the hang of how to put them in and take them out, it's a piece of cake. After getting my contacts, I have a higher self-esteem and confidence. My glasses were keeping me from being myself. I'm sure you don't want that for your daughter. You don't even feel them in your eyes if your eyes have enough moisture. If they get irrated, you can always put the drops in so the contacts get hydrated again. I use "Acuuve Advanced with Hydraclear" contact lenses. they are great. Please get your daughter contact lenses! She is definitely old enough. Good luck with everything!
P.S. Make sure she practices putting them in and taking them out before regularly wearing them! It took me some tim to get the hang of it but I am totally fine now and I'm sure your daughter will be too.

Answer 6

I'll be honest, I don't know much about autism. But by reading what you wrote, you don't seem disadvantaged or slow. You sound like a normal 18 year old. I don't know what you've gone through, but you sound like you're kind of bitter towards a lot of things. Even though you've had friendships that have failed in the past, that doesn't mean that you're incapable of having great relationships with people in the future. Don't pay any mind to people that don't like you. I know it's easier said then done. But being a kid and a teenager is way different than being on your own and being an adult. I promise you it'll get better. Plus, you're starting college soon. And I'm guessing not a lot of people are going to know who you are. So this is your chance to start new. Try having a more positive approach on things. When you're happy and positive, more people will react positively and nicely. Take classes on things that interest you, find new hobbies and meet people through that. At least you'll know you have things in common with those people, so you guys will get along more and it'll be easier to make friends. I wish you luck. And please don't kill yourself. I know that sometimes nothing seems to be easy and there's no hope and no one cares about you. But life still goes on and you can make it better for yourself. Don't let people negatively effect how you live your life.

Answer 7

13

Answer 8

I've had contacts since I was 13 and I've never had a problem. I'm not sure what responsibility you're picturing here, but contact lenses are very easy to maintain, clean, and store away. If she can remember to set an alarm clock, she can remember to throw away (if they're disposables) or clean her lenses each night. It's really not a big deal at all and they're also very comfortable.

Answer 9

I have a really strong prescription too, so I started wearing contacts when I was 12, now I'm 25. I've never had a problem other than being allergic to one type of solution, which resulted in itchy, red eyes but nothing serious. As soon as I switched solution I was fine. If she's responsible in other areas of her life I'm sure she'll be responsible about taking care of her eyes. Plus, contacts are pretty easy to take care of.
If she wants them, I see no harm in letting her try them.
:-)

Answer 10

My younger brother started wearing contacts at the age of 13. He plays a lot of sports and the glasses get in the way. My mom thought he'd struggle with it at first, but he was all excited about it and said the worst part was putting the contacts in the first time since he didn't like touching his eyes. Now he is used to it and loves contacts. You should let her give it a try...they usually give trial pairs at the eye doctor to see if the patient would like it.