How old should one be to wear contacts?!
Question:
How old should one be to wear contacts?
My sis is 13 and has thick glasses. When can she switch to contacts?
Answers:
As an optician, I've found that it is up to the patient's parent to decide when their children are ready. I've done instructions on children as young as 8 and they were great with it!
Sometimes, the parents want the kids to have the contacts because they are tired of having to replace lost and/or broken glasses. They feel that their kids would be better with contacts and sometimes that's true. But if the parents want them for the child, but the child doesn't want them, they seem to have great difficulty getting them in and out during the training session.
I don't really feel there is a specific age that kids are ready and responsible enough for them. Heck, I know plenty of adults who are more irresponsible with their contacts that any of the kids I've worked with, so I don't think that age is necessarily a good gauge of when someone is ready for contacts. The parents know the kid better than anyone and if they are comfortable with their kids wearing them, then that's what counts. Parents must also be present for all the child's appointments and instructional.
If your sister has very thick lenses, I'm sure she would really benefit from contacts, especially at age 13 when young girls tend to be very self-conscious about EVERYTHING. If she plays sports, she will greatly benefit from the increased peripheral vision and comfort that contacts provide. No more getting her glasses knocked off or bent up and no more wearing sports goggles (if she has them) Contacts would most likely be perfect for her...
I hope Mom lets her get them and she wears them in good health!
Cheers!