Can Children Wear Contact Lenses? Age, Safety and Care

Yes, many children can wear contact lenses. There is no firm minimum age: according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), what counts is how responsible the child and parent are. The Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO) notes that children as young as eight can do very well with lenses.

At what age can a child wear contact lenses?

There is no firm minimum age. An AAO ophthalmologist explains that the key criterion is how responsible the child and parent are. A motivated, clear-thinking 11-year-old could well become a successful contact lens wearer.

The CAO notes that children as young as eight can be very successful wearers. In an AAO review written for physicians, specialists explain that some set an age limit around 10 or 11, while others assess each child's maturity case by case. So it is a decision to make with your optometrist, after the eye exam.

Are contact lenses safe for children?

Yes, when the instructions are followed. A 2017 literature review in the journal Optometry and Vision Science concludes that soft contact lens complications of the cornea are no more frequent in children than in adults, and may even be markedly less frequent between ages 8 and 11.

The author puts this down to behaviour rather than biology: younger children take fewer risks, such as sleeping or showering in their lenses, and get more parental supervision. The CAO agrees: if children and parents stick to the wearing time, lens replacement and solution use, the risks drop considerably.

Can a child put in and take out lenses alone?

Most can, with good instructions. According to the CAO, children as young as eight handle lenses successfully, and it takes about 30 minutes on average to teach them to put lenses in and take them out, about the same time as for an adult.

The American Optometric Association (AOA) cites a study in which children could remove lenses as early as 4 to 5, put them in at 6 to 8, and clean and care for them well at 10 to 12. That is why parents need to know the hygiene rules too. Our article on wearing contact lenses for the first time covers each step.

Does the prescription need to be stable first?

No. The CAO says the prescription does not need to be stable before a fitting: in most children it keeps changing as they grow. When it changes, the next lens order is simply adjusted.

The AAO notes that lens power will probably change more often before 18 than in adults, so regular follow-up visits matter.

Daily or monthly lenses for a child?

Dailies make care simpler. The CAO explains that most children are fitted with disposable or planned replacement soft lenses. If lens care worries you, it suggests asking your optometrist about daily disposables, which remove the need for a daily care solution.

In an AAO review, an ophthalmologist also notes that disposables simplify care for children old enough to look after their own lenses. Our article on daily vs monthly contact lenses compares the two.

Why would a child want contacts instead of glasses?

Often for sports. The CAO lists situations parents know well: glasses that get in the way during sports or dance, that are always dirty, crooked or broken, or that steam up when coming in from the cold.

According to the CAO, children under 12 report a better vision-related quality of life with contact lenses than with glasses. The AOA also cites the ACHIEVE study, in which children aged 8 to 11 who wore lenses had a better self-perception, including athletic competence.

Do contact lenses replace glasses?

Not completely. The CAO notes that contacts do not replace glasses for every activity, such as school science labs. Teens should not wear them more than about 12 hours a day, or when they are sick or have an eye infection or injury.

The AOA also reports a specialist's view that children should wear glasses first, which can motivate them to work toward contacts. Our article on glasses or contact lenses compares the two options.

What hygiene rules apply to a child who wears lenses?

The same as for an adult. The AAO says to wash your hands with soap and dry them with a lint-free towel before touching your lenses, not to shower, swim or use a hot tub with lenses in, and not to sleep in daily wear lenses.

The 2017 review also lists overnight wear among the risk factors in young wearers. For details, see our articles on contact lens care and on showering and swimming with contacts.

When should the lenses come out, and when should you call?

As soon as an eye turns very red or painful. The AAO says to remove the lenses and call the eye doctor right away if the eyes are very red, painful, watery or sensitive to light, if vision turns blurry, or if there is discharge.

Teach these signs to your child, and make sure they know to tell an adult. Our article on a red eye with contact lenses explains what to do step by step.

Where can your child be assessed for contact lenses in Montréal?

At PrimeVision, 9520 Boulevard de l'Acadie, Suite 222, in Montréal (Ahuntsic), optometrists and a licensed optician work under one roof. The clinic sees children for eye exams from age 4. It fits silicone hydrogel soft contact lenses, and most trial lenses are available the same day when in stock. For children's myopia, it also fits Essilor Stellest and Hoya MiyoSmart spectacle lenses. RAMQ covers eye exams for children under 18 and adults 65+.

Our children's eye exams page explains how the visit works, and our article on your child's first eye exam helps you prepare. For lenses, see our contact lenses in Montréal page, and for myopia, our myopia control page.

Sources

• How young is too young for contacts?, American Academy of Ophthalmology.
• Contact Lenses in Children: Getting It Right, Lens, Age, and Need, EyeNet, American Academy of Ophthalmology.
• Contacts for Children, Canadian Association of Optometrists.
• Bullimore MA. The Safety of Soft Contact Lenses in Children. Optometry and Vision Science, 2017;94(6):638-646.
• Contact lenses worthwhile option for preteens, children, American Optometric Association.
• How to Take Care of Contact Lenses, American Academy of Ophthalmology.