As a parent, you probably have fond memories of helping your child pick out their first pair of frames. Remember how different they looked with their new glasses? But eventually, your child may want to move to wearing contacts instead. How do you know if they're ready to leave glasses behind? Here are some tips to help you make the best choice for your child and their vision.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Between Glasses and Contacts for Kids

Before you can be sure which form of vision correction will be best for your child, be sure to weigh these factors.

Age and developmental stage of the child

Caring for contact lenses and using them safely requires more responsibility and attention to detail than wearing eyeglasses. Is your child ready for the daily responsibility? Are they dextrous enough to clean them, insert them, and remove them? Poor hygiene can lead to eye infections, so you should be confident that your child is up to the task before trying contact lenses.

Lifestyle and activities

If your child plays sports, glasses may pose some minor risks. Eyeglasses impact wearers' peripheral vision, making it harder to see what's happening, especially during fast-paced activity.

Breaking glasses during sports is always an issue as well, so contacts may be the better choice. The exception is if your child is a swimmer because contacts shouldn't be worn in the water. In this case, they may do better with prescription goggles while they're in the pool.

Eye health conditions and prescriptions

Whether or not your child can wear contacts comfortably also depends on the health of their eyes.

If they have certain conditions, such as dry eyes or chronic irritation from allergies, contacts may not be a great choice for them.

The details of the prescription may also affect which form of vision correction will work best. To get a good picture of what will work best for your child, speak with one of our eye doctors at Urban Optics about the options that are available for them.

The Benefits of Wearing Contacts for Kids

As long as they're able to care for them, some kids may simply prefer wearing contacts. Getting rid of glasses is often a confidence boost for teens, making them feel more secure about how they look.

Because contacts don't obscure their peripheral vision, they will also be able to see more clearly, making it easier for them if they play sports. You won't have to worry about them breaking or losing their glasses anymore, either.

The Advantages of Wearing Glasses for Kids

On the other hand, for some kids, sticking with glasses may be the better choice. It's definitely simpler to just grab your glasses in the morning.

If you aren't sure your child will keep up with cleaning their contacts and taking them out at the end of the day, it may be a safer bet to stick with glasses.

Depending on the health of their eyes and prescription needs, glasses may be the better choice for them.

Again, speak to a qualified optometrist for information about your child's needs.

Contacts vs. Glasses: Which Choice Is Right For Your Kid?

This decision should be made with the input of your child and the advice of their optometrist. Although most kids are ready for the responsibility of contacts by about 12 years old, that's only a rough guideline. Each child is different, and you know yours best.

Combined with a doctor's insight about the different choices, you can decide together which way to go.

Contact Urban Optics for Specialized Pediatric Eye Exam Services

If you're trying to decide if contacts would be the right option for your child, we invite you to contact us for more information.

The skilled professionals at Urban Optics would love to help you and your child pick the vision correction that will serve them best.

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