Tweens and Teens

This guide is designed to help answer your questions about your teen wearing contact lenses.

Knowing when your child is ready for contact lenses

There is no set age to begin wearing contact lenses. Really, it’s more about your child’s level of responsibility than their age. If you feel your child will be able to responsibly wear and care for their lenses, then they’re ready.

Some doctors gauge a child’s readiness to get contact lenses by observing some general behaviors:

• Does your child like to learn new things? If they do, it generally shows that they have enough confidence to have success with lenses.
• Does your child talk about contact lenses? This is an even stronger indicator that your child is eager and motivated to succeed.
• Is your child involved in sports or other extracurricular activities? Children who can follow a routine in these areas typically do well with contact lenses.

If you feel you need help determining whether your child is ready for contact lenses, talk to your eye care professional.

Vision correction options

Lenses are designed for a variety of vision correction needs, from nearsightedness (myopia) and farsightedness (hyperopia), to more advanced needs like astigmatism. While they’re all designed to improve vision, there are differences – like optics, materials, and replacement schedules.

Some lenses even have enhanced optics to reduce the effects of spherical aberration, a natural occurrence that can cause halos and glares around lights at night. The optical design of your child’s lens will depend on their vision correction needs and how their lenses will be used.

Choosing a lens for younger wearers

There are many lens attributes to consider when deciding on a lens. Your child’s eye care professional will take a number of factors into consideration when determining the right lens for your child, including:

• Ease of insertion/removal
• Lens strength to resist tearing
• Ability to resist buildup over time

Lenses are designed for specific wearing times.  Depending on what’s best for your child, your eye care professional may recommend a lens designed to be worn for one day, a lens designed for two weeks of daily wear, or a lens designed for one month of daily wear.

An ideal lens for the first-time wearer

Bausch & Lomb PureVision® contact lenses – an ideal lens for the first-time wearer.

• Great performance and comfort for your child’s lifestyle.
• A healthy, safe option for your peace of mind.
• Outstanding value with easy-to-remember monthly replacement.
• Easy handling and durability make insertion and removal a breeze.

Get a free* trial lens certificate.