Contact Lenses for Children: Determining the Right Age & Candidacy

There's no "one-size-fits-all" answer to this question. The right age for a child to get contact lenses depends on a number of factors, including:

- The child's age and maturity level

- The child's vision needs

- The child's lifestyle

- The cost of contact lenses

A child may be a good candidate for contact lenses if:

- They understand how to clean and care for contact lenses

- They have the coordination to put in and take out contact lenses

- They can understand and follow instructions

- They are willing to give up wearing eyeglasses

In general, eye doctors are more cautious before prescribing contact lenses to young children who may not be able to properly understand and follow instructions.

Talk to your eye doctor about whether contact lenses are right for your child.