Is 9 too young for contact lenses?

Question

My son skateboards, wrestles, swims, and does all the things a healthy 9 yo boy should, but it's not so healthy for his glasses. He destroys about one pair a month, average. This month he's broken THREE PAIR. I am seriously starting to go broke replacing them. I've begged, pleaded, threatened, punished, and rewarded him about being more careful with his glasses, but I've studied the issue carefully for some time now (he's worn glasses since he was six), and he honestly doesn't mean to break them. They get laid by the poolside, cracked on helmets, and slip off his sweaty nose as he slides into third base. Glasses, more or less, are simply not conducive with his active lifestyle.

Friends (who don't have kids!) keep telling me to buy him contact lenses but in the past I have dismissed it as a ridiculous idea for a kid so young. But now I am not so sure. Maybe contacts would work better for him if he could learn to use them. Any thoughts or educated opinions/experiences?

Answer 1

sorry but he's too young.Contacts can still pop out and a big no-no while swimming !

Wait until he's 12 or 13

Answer 2

hes old enough if you spend that much money he has to pass a test though

first he as to be able to stick his finger in his eye

then he has to have great hygiene

if he doesn't do either of these he cant get them

Answer 3

For sports, how about sports glasses. About contacts, I have had friends whose children left them in to long and the children lost part of their vision. There are pros and cons. I would consult with an optometrist and see what their opinion. I would not let my 9 year old have contacts because of responsibility issues and safety issues. I would use sports goggles or sports glasses for skate boarding/baseball/soccer. For swimming, they can make prescription goggles. Good luck.

Answer 4

NO!!!!! if he breaks his glasses 3 times a month, lord knows what he could do with contacts.  Contacts are much harder to see, and they could easily fall out if they were  put in wrong.  I have contacts, and they fall out all of the time!!!! If he keeps breaking his glasses, and his vision isn't too bad, have him take off his glasses everywhere but in school.. You could also get the sport glasses that wrap around your head for when he plays sports.  I DO NOT RECOMMEND CONTACT LENSES.

Answer 5

Contacts will still fall out and get damaged etc.  Not so different from glasses.  Also he may have difficulty apllying them.  Just buy his glasses in quantity rather than quality at his age now.

Answer 6

I think it would probably be good for him to get them, if you think he's responsible enough to keep up with them. My sister is 10 and got them, and she used to lose them.

Answer 7

Contacts aren't too young for a 9 year old some kids are blind from birth think of your son as lucky. And i think you may have to get specialist contacts for his eyes or you could just save up to have him get laser surgory in the long run it'll be cheaper than replace so many pairs of gasses each month.

Answer 8

no 9 is not too young for contacts....i personally have been wearing them since i was 10

Answer 9

It is a little young, my friend got contacts when he was 11. But if he can be responsible and handle them properly then why not.

Answer 10

Boy do I understand.  My son started wearing glasses at age 3.  The first year, we replaces the lenses once and the frame?  geez, a million times...  this is his second year and already, with the new glasses, Im in the eye place sometimes every week!!

Im not sure what age is good for contact lenses.. Maybe discuss it with your son, as well as your eye dr...  you can always give it a try and if he does well, woohoo..  if not, wait till he is older.

Oh, have ya tried the flexi frames?? they're supposed to flex everywhich way possible... so it could stop them from braking so easily.

Answer 11

I think wait until 11-12 for contacts. Try a pair of bendable (Titanium) glasses. My friend has these, and she can literally bend them in half! They can be bent into all shapes and spring back again. Also, they have connectors that like keep them on your head for sports.

Answer 12

I worked for 5 years at a private practice. The youngest I trained for soft contact lens was 9. The doctor will probably suggest daily wear but they are very costly, though convenient. (no need to purchase solution, and a fresh pair each day is healthier for the eyes) Expect to pay approx. 500.00 a  year for dailie disposible! Boys tend to be a little more clumsy training for lens, and expect alot of practice. You could go with 2 wk lens if hes responsible with storing them each nite, and keeping the solution fresh each day. (2wk lens like acuvue )There may be a contact lens fitting fee for the first time lens wearer, and that can be an additional 80.00 plus. Its alot to consider, but makes sports alot more enjoyable for him. I would try it, and only purchase enough lens the first time around (1-3month supply) to see if he really likes them. I believe in a good pair of glasses, with top of the line lens in them as a back up to contact lens. If you are talked into a year supply of cls, be SURE he only opens one box at a time. So if they dont work out, you can return them. Check that out.

If he doesnt like the cls, or is struggling with them, a few months, or a year wait can make a BIG difference in his attitude towards them. Good luck.