Most kids are self-conscious about using eyeglasses and may even dislike how they make them look. Contact lenses can improve a child's self-esteem by enhancing their appearance and sports and social engagement interactions. Getting your kid fitted for contact lenses can help with Myopia management. Orthokeratology can also effectively reverse existing nearsightedness in a myopic child.
If your child participates in sports, you might be worried about their eyeglass frames shattering and causing injury during contact sports. With contact lenses, this issue is addressed while ensuring the playing field’s unobstructed view and enhancing peripheral vision. Parents play a crucial role in helping their kids adjust to lenses. Here’s how you can help your child transition from eyeglasses to contact lenses.
1. Visit an eye care expert
While you can buy contact lenses from anywhere, you'll need a prescription. Start by visiting an optometrist to get your child's eye health retested for a prescription suitable for their condition. The specialist will also measure their eye shape and size to ensure the contact lenses fit perfectly. In addition, the eye care provider will take through the lens insertion and removal process and their care and maintenance routine. This can make it easier to help the child transition.
2. Begin with the basics
It’s easy to overlook contact lens basics. However, they're essential for successful contact lens usage. While your optometrist might have walked you through the process, reviewing it regularly with your child is critical. Remind them to:
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Clean their hands before handling contact lenses
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Not to wear their lenses when going to swim, shower, and sleep
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Keep their contact lenses in a fresh lens solution after every use
Note that your young one should change their contact lenses as advised by the doctor. Failure to heed this counsel could cause eye damage and other complications.
3. Go for daily disposable lenses
When your child is new to contact lenses, consider starting with daily disposable lenses because they’re worn once and discarded at the end of every day. While these are convenient and safe for children, they're also low maintenance. With daily disposable contact lenses, your child doesn't have to master lens cleaning and storing procedures because they'll throw them away daily.
4. Keep your child’s eyeglasses
Transitioning from eyeglasses to contact lenses may not be easy in the beginning due to discomfort, meaning your child may take time before getting used to wearing lenses. So, keep their eyeglasses as a backup. Your eye care provider might suggest using the glasses as a primary vision correction method during the first few weeks or months. As your child gets used to wearing contact lenses, they’ll become less dependent on glasses.
5. Be patient
Wearing contact lenses requires time to get accustomed to it, so don't expect your child to be comfortable with lenses immediately. Be patient with them and tell them that experiencing some slight discomfort initially is normal so they don't get frustrated. Remind them that they can go back to wearing their eyeglasses should the lenses become too uncomfortable.
6. Follow a routine
Strictly following a routine is an excellent way to help your kid transition to wearing contact lenses. At first, they can wear their lenses on specific days instead of everyday until they get used to a schedule.
Endnote
Parents play an essential role in helping their kids switch to contacts. Use these tips to help your child transition from eyeglasses to contact lenses.
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