Practices In Fitting Children In Contact Lenses Study Offers Practitioners’ Insights On Appropriate Age To Introduce A Child To Soft Contact Lenses And Factors That Influence Their Decision To Prescribe Contacts For Children (NAPSA)—More than half of herself (89 percent), and the child’s optometrists feel it is appropriate personal hygiene habits (89 percent). While only a very small perto introduce a child to soft contact lenses between the ages of 10 and centage of doctors say they are less 12, with daily disposable contact likely to fit contact lenses in children, poor hygiene and maturity lenses being the most frequently levels seen in younger children prescribed contacts for this age group, according to a new Ameriwere most often cited as reasons. can Optometric Association (AOA) “Studies demonstrate that chilstudy. dren who need vision correction are capable of wearing and caring At ages 8-9 (51 percent) and 10-12 (71 percent), optometrists Studies demonstrate that children for soft contact lenses,” adds Dr. most often fit children in glasses who need vision correction are Sindt. “Optometrists will typically as the primary method of vision capable of wearing and caring for evaluate a child’s maturity and correction and prescribe contact soft contactlenses. level of parental support in decidlenses as a secondary correction. study was conducted by the AOA ing whether a child is ready for However, data from the survey of in conjunction with the Sports contact lenses.” Other findings from the survey: 576 optometrists from across the Vision Section and Contact Lens country shows a gradual shift in and Cornea Sections of AOA, with The majority (74 percent) of optometrists’ approach to vision support from VISTAKON, Division optometrists surveyed say that correction as children get older, of Johnson & Johnson Vision gender does not influence their with 21 percent noting that they Care, Inc. decision to fit a child in contact are more likely to fit 10—12-yearThe study was designed to lenses, while one in four (26 perolds in contact lenses than they gauge current trends in prescribing cent) say they are morelikely to were a year ago. Onein five (20 contact lenses to children ages 8-17 fit younger children when they percent) respondents say they and to understand factors that are girls. begin prescribing contact lenses influence optometrists’ decisions to Three-fourths (75 percent) as the principal form of vision cor- fit a child in contacts. On average, say contact lenses that offer ultrarection for children ages 10-12, respondents indicated that children violet protection influence their nearly half (49 percent) prescribe up to the age of 17 account for decision to prescribe contacts for contact lenses first for 18—14-year- about 41 percent of their total con- children. While daily disposable conolds, and two-thirds (66 percent) tact lens patient population. recommend contact lenses as the Of doctors who say they are tact lenses are the most fremain form of vision correction for now morelikely to fit children in quently prescribed lenses for chil15-17-year-olds. dren 12 years and under, doctors contact lenses, 30 percent “Studies in children’s vision attribute their changein fitting tend to prescribe reusable contact correction confirm that contacts behavior to daily disposable lenses (i.e., two-week and monthly provide additional benefits to chil- lenses, 23 percent cite “improved replacement) more often than dren beyond simply correcting contact lens materials,” 19 percent daily disposables for children ages their vision, including signifi- say they are morelikely to fit chil- 13-14 and 15-17. cantly improving how they feel dren with contact lenses because Two out of five (39 percent) about their physical appearance, of requests from the child and/or optometrists say that parents acceptance among friends and parent, and 10 percent say that requesting their child to be fitted ability to play sports. It’s no sur- “recent research/studies” on the in contact lenses do so because the prise that optometrists and par- subject and children’s participa- child refuses to wear his or her ents are becoming even more com- tion in activities/sports have influ- glasses, 36 percent say parents note that the child’s current vision fortable with the decision to encedtheir decision. recommend contact lenses to chilNearly all (96 percent) respon- correction interferes with sports, dren when vision correction is dents say that a child’s interest and 16 percent say parents want required,” says Christine W. and motivation to wear contact their child in contact lenses Sindt, OD, FAAO, associate prolenses is the most important fac- because the current form of vision fessor of clinical ophthalmology, tor to consider in fitting a child correction interferes with daily activities. Department of Ophthalmology with contacts. Also very important to doctors Seven in 10 (71 percent) docand Visual Sciences, University of Towa, and chair of the Contact are a child’s maturity level (98 tors said overnight wear of contact Lens and Cornea Section of AOA. percent), the child’s ability to take lenses is not appropriate for chilThe Children & Contact Lenses care of contact lenses by him- or dren underthe age of 18.
