What Are Children's Contacts and Eyeglasses?
At Family Vision Care, we offer premier pediatric eye care services, including durable and trendy glasses and contact lens options. When fitting your child with glasses or contacts, our goal is primarily to improve their vision; however, we want them to be comfortable enough that children — even very young ones — can keep them on all day. We feature a wide range of frames, from specialty frames for infants to popular brands for tweens and teens, such as Ray-Ban and Nike.
Additionally, we offer contacts for children, which can be a great option if you have an athletic child. While we don't typically suggest contacts any earlier than seven years old, the maturity level of your child has an impact on whether or not they're ready for the responsibility of contacts. We work with you and your child to determine if glasses or contacts are their best option. For more information, contact our optometrists, Dr. Daxx Dunn, Dr. Marla Weldon, and Dr. Kelly Short, at our Franklin, TN office today.
What Are The Signs A Child Needs Glasses Or Contacts?
The most common symptoms that children need vision correction often include:
- Squinting
- Sitting too close or holding objects too close
- Tilting the head to one side
- Covering one eye
- Rubbing the eyes
- Headaches
- Eye pain
- Difficulty concentrating on reading or schoolwork
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How Can I Help My Child Select Glasses or Contacts?
The first step in helping your child find the correct glasses or contacts is by conducting a comprehensive eye exam. This exam will help us determine the strength and prescription your child needs. From there, we will assess whether your child qualifies for glasses or contacts. Some things we'll consider are their age, daily habits, activity level, maturity, and preference. If your child selects glasses, we will help them find a fit and style appropriate for them that they find attractive. If your child is interested in contacts, we'll review the responsibility of having contacts, including how to put them in and take them out and how to properly care for them. Either way, we will ensure that the fit and focus of your child's glasses or contacts are correct at a follow-up appointment once they've received their eyewear.
Children's Contacts and Eyewear FAQ
When should children start getting eye exams?
If your child is at low risk for and does not have any symptoms of potential vision problems, the American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends that children have their first eye exam at six months.
How old do children have to be before getting contacts?
At Family Vision Care, we typically recommend that children should be at least seven years old before getting contacts. This is mostly to ensure they have the maturity and sense of responsibility to properly use and care for their contact lenses. The most critical responsibility is maintaining proper care and hygiene with the contacts to prevent any possible problems or eye infections.
What is the right age for children to get glasses?
When children reach the age of 3 – 4 years old, their eyes have fully developed, meaning they can be ready for vision correction with glasses if necessary. However, even children as young as infants can wear glasses. Health care providers have said that typically, children can become nearsighted or farsighted between the ages of 6 – 12.
Improve Your Child's Vision
If you have noticed that your child has been squinting, complaining that he or she can't see very well, or is struggling in school with their vision, we can help. Dr. Dunn, Dr. Weldon, and Dr. Short offer pediatric eye care for infants and children of all ages. In cases where glasses or contacts are needed, we can help your child select an option that fits with their lifestyle and personality.
