Parent's guide to contact lenses for teenagers

Have you had "the talk" with your teenager? No, not that one. You know, the one where you talk about switching from glasses to contact lenses? (Whew.) If your teen has shown any interest in contacts, or conversely, any disinterest in wearing glasses, it may be the right time to start them on their journey of contact-wearing.  

Is it too early for my teen to wear contacts? Your child can wear contacts as early as age 6, it just depends on how mature and willing they are to take on the responsibility. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 25% of American teenagers and children have glasses or contacts, so no matter which type of vision correction your teen chooses, they'll be in good company. 

If you're ready to help them make the transition, here are a few important tips to consider:

Talk about hygiene. A lot. Make it weird.

The most important part of wearing contact lenses is knowing how to properly care for them. Make sure your teen understands good contact hygiene to not only protect their eyes, but also to avoid a gnarly eye infection that might scare off their Prom date. Encourage the following tips: 

Don't share contacts. 

It feels weird to even have to suggest this one, but we all know that teens are generous and have a tendency to share things. Just maybe not contacts that aren't meant for anyone else's eyes but theirs.  

When it's time to throw them out, throw them out. 

It may be tempting to try and get more use out of your contacts by going beyond what's recommended, but this could result in serious injury or infection. If their contacts are past their use period or are torn, throw them out. Insider tip: We replace torn lenses! If your teenager's contact tears within the recommended wear time, give us a call and we will send a replacement lens.  

Wash hands before inserting or adjusting contacts. 

Our eyes are an easy entry point for germs to get in and start causing a ruckus. Teach your teens to make hand washing a habit each time they put in and remove their contact lenses.

Prepare for a little bit of trial and error.

What are the best contacts for teenagers? Whatever brands are available in their prescription that they find the most comfortable. We recommend soft lenses as they're the most comfortable to get used to. We also suggest starting with dailies so that your teenager gets into a hygiene-friendly routine of throwing out their old contacts at the end of the day. Ultimately, your eye doctor will be able to help you find the right lenses for their vision type, though it may take a little bit of trial and error to find ones that are comfortable and free of irritation.

Get to know the cost difference.

Contact lenses are affordable, but their price will vary depending on the lens type, so make sure to plan your budget accordingly. Sometimes glasses are cheaper, and sometimes contacts are the less expensive option. Ideally, your teen should also have an updated pair of glasses to use during moments they're not wearing their contacts, so if you'd like to save money, try ordering a basic pair of frames or re-lens an old pair of frames they already have.

Be cautious about colored lenses.

Colored lenses are a fun novelty because they give your eye color a totally different appearance. Your teenager may be excited to try out having blue or lavender eyes, or even a spooky red eye for Halloween. To maintain your teen's happy, healthy eyes, make sure to purchase colored lenses from a reputable vision company, like 1-800 Contacts , and not at a Halloween or retail store. (You can even order colored lenses with your prescription... pretty neat!) 

When it comes to contact lenses for teenagers, there are plenty of options to help make the transition easier. Simply make an appointment with your eyecare specialist, and you'll be well on your way. 

Sources: 

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7023a4.htm