Contact Lenses for Children

Providing a great alternative to glasses for kids on the go

We find that children and teenagers are often very successful in wearing contact lenses as they can see the significant improvements in the quality of their life. They are highly motivated to try contact lenses due to the all-round vision and convenience for sports and leisure giving them more self-confidence and self-esteem.

At what age can children be fitted with contact lenses?

The average age at which children are first fitted with contact lenses is currently 13 years old, however we have successfully fitted contact lenses to children from the age of 9. If your child expresses an interest in wearing contact lenses we will happily talk through the options with you and your child to make sure you can both make an informed decision. We outline the importance of your child taking responsibility for looking after the contact lenses correctly to keep them clean and safe. If after the assessment you feel your child is not quite yet ready for contact lenses, you can always reconsider at a later date.

If you decide to go ahead with contact lenses, our Optometrist will be able to recommend the most suitable lens for your child, arrange for them to trial some lenses to see how they get on with them and show them how to apply and remove their lenses and look after them.

What are the benefits of contact lenses?

Contact lenses have many advantages over glasses although we would always recommend that if your child wears contact lenses they have a spare pair of glasses as a back-up.

With the advancements made in recent years in contact lens design, contact lenses provide excellent comfort and eye health. They can be worn every day, part-time or just for going out and special occasions.

Advantages to children and teens are:

• Good all round vision including peripheral vision
• More convenient for sports and leisure activities without fear of their glasses breaking in contact sports
• Improved appearance
• Social acceptance with children benefiting from the vision correction in the classroom
• Greater self-confidence and self-esteem
• Protection from ultraviolet exposure with certain lenses

NHS and Contact Lenses

Under the NHS an eye examination is available on a yearly basis without charge for all children up to the age of 16 and on a two yearly basis for under 19s if they are in full-time education.

Your child’s NHS entitlement to an eye test can be used as part payment for the cost of their contact lens consultation. Parents may choose to use a GOS3 voucher towards the cost of either the contact lenses prescribed or glasses, however the value of the voucher will vary dependent on the child’s prescription.