by Joel Harrison
4. December 2010 13:10
Even though contact lenses have been worn by children for years, there is still controversy about what the proper age for starting contact lens use is. Amir Khan, M.D., from Mayo Clinic in Rochester deals with the issue in a recently published article.
In his opinion, there is no such thing as a ‘proper age’. Eyecare practitioners need to assess the maturity of each child and the level of supervision the child receives. In addition, there are no special risks associated with children wearing contact lenses, and all of them can be avoided if parents make sure that children follow contact lens manufacturers’ guidelines related to cleaning and replacing lenses.
According to Khan, it is also extremely important to choose a right contact lens solution and use it consistently with its producer’s recommendations. Moreover, the child needs to be instructed on how to insert and take out contact lenses safely.
Finally, Khan states that – as children’s eyes change constantly – they should visit an ophthalmologist at least once a year to ensure that they have appropriate vision correction at all times.
Subscribe