Which contact is best for my child?

​Choosing the right contacts for your child is important because not all contacts are the same. For example, different contacts use different plastics and curves. Consequently, the amount of oxygen that gets through to the eyes, the movement of the lenses and the disposal schedule is different. Children will react differently to some of these different options depending on their tear chemistry, shape of their eyes, etc... some children do better with a lens that has a higher internal water content while a lower water content may be more comfortable for others. Other children fare better with a more frequent disposal schedule. In order to pick the right lens for your child, we will evaluate various different parameters specific to your child's eyes and needs.

Can my child wear contacts?

​There is no age limit for wearing contacts. In fact, infants who are born with cataracts are often fit with contacts. A clinical study involving 8-11 year olds wearing one-day disposable contacts showed that 90 percent of the children did not have problems inserting or removing their lenses without parental assistance. If your child is motivated to wear contacts and is responsible enough to care for contacts, then he/she is "old enough". If you constantly need to remind your child to practice good hygiene and to follow through with homework and chores, then they may not be ready to tackle the responsibility of contacts. However, if the opposite is true, then your child would be an excellent candidate for contacts.

Types of contacts that we fit:

    O Soft spherical, torics & bifocals

    O Gas permeables

    O Toric gas permeables 

    O Bi-toric gas permeables

    O Progressive gas permeables

    O Piggyback lens systems

    O Scleral lenses

    O Keratoconus lenses (Kerasoft IC, etc...)

    O Sports tints, cosmetic tints

    O Color blindness lenses

    O Orthokeratology lenses

"Don'ts" of contact lens wear:

​O Use creamy hand soap

   These can leave a film on your hands that can            transfer to the contacts which will create bacteria      harboring deposits.

O Place soft contacts in your mouth

   Your mouth and saliva are full of bacteria and can      be a source of infection.

​O Swap contacts with someone else

   Would you want to use someone else's toothbrush?      It's the same idea. Don't do it.

O Order contacts without a valid Rx

   Studies show that people who purchase contacts

   over the internet are at a 5 times greater risk of

   developing infections compared to patients who          purchase lenses at their doctor's office.  According

   to the FDA, the use of decorative contacts that are

   sold to consumers without an Rx and without proper

   fitting by an eye doctor can lead to permanent

   damage. The FDA warns consumers to stop using

   decorative contacts that have been obtained

   without an Rx or fitting.

"Do's" of contact lens wear:

​O Always wash your hands thoroughly

   Studies show that patients who do not wash their        hands prior to handling their contact lenses are          1.5 times more likely to develop an infection.

O Carefully clean your contacts daily

   Infection rates with contacts are less than                  0.0004% per year. When they do occur, they are          often associated with poor lens care.

​O Replace contact lens case every 3 months

   Studies indicate that the rate of infection is              increased by 3.7 times with poor contact lens case      hygiene.

O Remove contacts before swimming

   1 in 30,000 contact lens wearers per year will              contract Acanthamoeba keratitis. Swimming in

   contacts increases the risk of this infection.

   Though relatively rare, this infection is extremely

   difficult to get rid of, so it is not worth the risk.

   Competitive swimmers should consider daily

   disposables, orthokeratology or prescription swim

   goggles.

We successfully fit patients with contacts who have the following conditions:

    O Astigmatism

    O Keratoconus

    O Post-surgical corneas

    O Presbyopia

    O Dry Eyes

    O Pellucid marginal degeneration

    O Myopia

    O Hyperopia

    O High refractive errors

    O Color blindness