The preliminary examinations are long and complicated, but I suppose they are necessary for a proper professional treatment.
— Peter Kearney
Contact Lenses for Kids
Types of Contact Lenses We Recommend for Children
Not every lens is the right fit for every child. Our team takes into account your child's age, prescription, lifestyle, and hygiene habits before recommending a lens type. Here is an overview of the main options we discuss with families.
For most children, we start with daily disposable contact lenses. These lenses are worn once and discarded at the end of the day, which means there is no need for cleaning solutions or storage cases.
Because each lens comes in a sterile blister pack and is used only once, daily disposables carry a lower risk of infection than reusable lenses. They also simplify the routine, which makes independent use more manageable for younger wearers.
Even with daily lenses, proper handling is essential. Hands must be washed and dried before every insertion, lenses should never be rinsed with water, and each lens must be discarded immediately after removal. Daily lenses should never be reused or saved, and they should not be slept in unless our team specifically prescribes an overnight-approved lens.
Once a child consistently demonstrates good hygiene and reliable care habits, our team may discuss two-week or monthly replacement lenses. These require nightly cleaning and proper storage but can be a more economical choice over time.
- Lower ongoing cost compared to daily disposables
- Require a cleaning solution and a contact lens case
- Must follow strict replacement schedules
- Best suited for teenagers who have worn contacts successfully for at least several months
- Use fresh disinfecting solution each night and never top off old solution
- Rub and rinse lenses as directed for the specific solution type
- Clean the case after each use and replace it every one to three months
- Never rinse lenses or the case with tap water
Children with astigmatism (an irregular curvature of the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye) can wear toric contact lenses, which are designed to correct this type of vision problem. Toric lenses are available in both daily and reusable formats. Children with more irregular corneal shapes may need rigid gas-permeable or scleral lenses, which are specially fitted to the eye.
For children whose nearsightedness is progressing quickly, our team may recommend myopia control lenses. These specialty designs may help slow the rate at which a child's prescription changes. Results vary by child, and while these lenses may slow progression, they do not stop or reverse it. We also discuss other myopia management options such as low-dose atropine drops, myopia control spectacle lenses, and guidance on outdoor time and near-work habits. Progress is monitored through regular follow-up visits.
Orthokeratology lenses, often called ortho-k, are worn only while your child sleeps. They gently reshape the cornea overnight so that clear vision is maintained throughout the day without any lenses or glasses.
This option appeals to active children who swim, play contact sports, or simply prefer not to manage lenses during the day. Ortho-k requires a specialized fitting process and consistent nightly wear to maintain results.
Because ortho-k lenses are worn overnight, they carry a higher risk of infection and require meticulous hygiene and strict avoidance of water. Your child must remove the lenses immediately and contact our office the same day if they experience pain, redness, light sensitivity, discharge, or any change in vision. This option also requires more frequent follow-up visits early on to confirm a safe fit and proper corneal response.
The Contact Lens Fitting and Training Process
A contact lens fitting for a child is not the same as a routine eye exam. Our team takes the time to measure, evaluate, train, and support both child and parent through each stage of the process. Here is what to expect.
The initial contact lens exam goes well beyond checking your child's vision prescription. We measure the curvature of the cornea, evaluate the quality of the tear film (the thin layer of moisture that keeps the eye comfortable), and check for any conditions that could interfere with safe lens wear.
This visit typically takes longer than a routine exam because we set aside time to answer your questions and make sure both you and your child feel informed and at ease before moving forward.
We use precise instruments to map the front surface of the eye and determine the ideal lens diameter, curvature, and prescription. Every eye is unique, so accurate measurements help ensure the lens fits properly and moves naturally with each blink.
- Corneal topography (detailed mapping of the eye's surface shape)
- Pupil and iris measurements to determine lens size
- Tear breakup time to assess moisture stability on the eye
- Discussion of daily schedules, activities, and screen time habits
Once we select trial lenses, your child will wear them in the office for a short period so we can observe how they move, center, and feel. We check the fit under magnification and ask your child to look in different directions, blink normally, and describe any sensations.
Small adjustments to lens parameters can make a meaningful difference in comfort and vision quality. We take the time to get the fit right before finalizing the prescription.
Learning to insert and remove contact lenses is a hands-on skill, and our team guides your child through every step with mirrors, good lighting, and genuine encouragement. We never rush this training session.
Most children feel comfortable with both tasks by the end of their training visit, though some need an extra session. Your child will leave the office able to complete both steps with confidence.
We send your child home with written instructions and a starter supply of lenses. Practicing every day during the first week helps build the muscle memory and confidence needed for long-term success.
- Wash and dry hands thoroughly before touching lenses
- Use good lighting and a clean, flat surface
- Keep a mirror at eye level for easier insertion
- If a lens folds or sticks, use rewetting drops and try again calmly
- Use only rewetting drops labeled safe for contact lenses
- Never use saliva or tap water to wet or clean a lens
- If a lens feels stuck, use rewetting drops and blink gently rather than forcing removal
- Contact our office if difficulty persists
Teaching Your Child Proper Contact Lens Care
Safe contact lens wear depends almost entirely on consistent habits. Our team teaches both children and parents the care routines that prevent infections and keep eyes healthy over the long term. These habits need to be followed every single day without shortcuts.
For two-week or monthly lenses, your child should remove the lenses each night, rub them gently with fresh solution, rinse thoroughly, and place them in a case filled with clean solution. Old solution should never be topped off or reused.
We walk through the rub-and-rinse method during training and provide a written checklist to post near the bathroom mirror. The lens case itself should be cleaned after each use and replaced every one to three months to prevent contamination.
Contaminated lens cases are one of the most common causes of contact lens-related eye infections, so proper case care is just as important as lens care itself.
- Use fresh disinfecting solution every time and never top off old solution
- Rub and rinse lenses as instructed unless the solution system is specifically labeled no-rub
- Keep lenses and cases away from all water sources, including the sink and shower
- Empty the case each morning, rub with fresh solution, rinse with solution, and let it air-dry face-down
- Replace the case every one to three months or sooner if it looks dirty or damaged
- Never share lenses or lens cases with anyone
Clean hands are the single most important factor in safe contact lens use. Your child must wash with soap and water and dry completely with a lint-free towel before every lens-handling session.
- Avoid scented or lotion-based soaps that leave residue on the hands
- Scrub for at least twenty seconds, including under the fingernails
- Dry completely to prevent water droplets from reaching the lenses
- Never handle lenses with wet or visibly soiled hands
Every contact lens has a defined lifespan, whether one day, two weeks, or one month. Wearing lenses past their replacement date increases the risk of irritation, infection, and blurred vision.
Marking replacement dates on a calendar or setting phone reminders helps your child stay on schedule. Stretching lens use to save money can lead to complications that cost far more in treatment time and missed activities than a fresh pair of lenses ever would.
Contact lenses should never come into contact with tap water, pool water, hot tub water, or any natural body of water. Water can carry harmful microorganisms that cause serious and sometimes vision-threatening infections. This means no showering with lenses in, and never rinsing a lens or case under the faucet. If swimming cannot be avoided, ask our team about protective goggles and whether to use daily disposable lenses that are discarded immediately afterward.
Teach your child to insert lenses before applying eye makeup and to remove lenses before taking makeup off. Aerosol sprays, hair products, and facial lotions should be kept away from the eyes while wearing contacts.
Even with excellent care, occasional discomfort or unusual symptoms can occur. Teaching your child to recognize and immediately report warning signs is one of the most important safety steps a parent can take.
- Redness that lasts more than a few minutes after putting lenses in
- Pain, burning, or stinging while wearing lenses
- Blurry vision that does not clear after blinking
- Feeling that something is trapped under the lens
- Sensitivity to light beyond mild discomfort
- Vision that is noticeably worse than usual
- Unusual discharge or crusting around the eye
- Swelling of the eyelid
Follow-Up Care and When to Seek Help
Starting contact lenses is just the beginning. Ongoing checkups allow our team to monitor your child's eye health, confirm that the lenses still fit well as the eyes grow, and address any concerns before they become problems.
We schedule the first follow-up visit within one to two weeks of your child beginning lens wear. This early appointment lets us check the fit, assess eye health, and answer questions that come up once your child has been wearing lenses at home.
After that initial check, most children return every six months for routine contact lens exams. These visits update prescriptions as needed and reinforce healthy habits as your child grows and their eyes change.
Every child who wears contact lenses needs an up-to-date pair of glasses. Eyes benefit from regular breaks, and glasses provide a safe alternative on days when your child feels tired, under the weather, or experiences any irritation.
Backup glasses also ensure your child can see clearly if a lens tears, is lost, or is accidentally left behind during a trip or sleepover. We keep the glasses prescription current at each contact lens exam so both options are always available.
Teach your child to remove their contact lenses immediately if they experience sudden pain, a gritty sensation, or any change in vision. Continuing to wear a lens when something feels wrong can turn a minor issue into a serious one.
- Sharp or stabbing eye pain
- Sudden redness or a bloodshot appearance
- Discharge or sticky mucus around the eye
- Significant sensitivity to light
- Reduced or blurry vision
After removing the lenses, they should not be reinserted. If you suspect an infection or injury, save the lenses and the case and bring them to our office for evaluation.
Some symptoms require immediate professional attention, even if removing the lens brings temporary relief. Contact our office the same day if your child reports severe pain, significant redness, pus-like discharge, or rapid vision loss.
If our office is closed and symptoms are severe or worsening, seek care at an urgent care center or emergency department right away. Eye infections can progress quickly in contact lens wearers, and early treatment often prevents complications and gets your child back to normal activities much sooner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to questions we hear most often from parents considering contact lenses for their children. If your question is not covered here, our team is always glad to help you think it through.
There is no universal minimum age, but most children who succeed with contacts early on are at least eight to ten years old. The more meaningful question is whether your child demonstrates the maturity, hygiene habits, and communication skills needed to wear lenses safely. We evaluate each child individually rather than making decisions based on age alone, so it is worth scheduling a consultation even if you are unsure.
Contact lenses offer real advantages for active kids. They do not break or dislodge during physical activity, and they provide full peripheral vision that glasses cannot match. However, contacts do not protect the eye from impact. We recommend appropriate protective eyewear, such as polycarbonate sports goggles, for any sport where there is a risk of eye injury. For swimming and water sports, lenses should be removed or protective goggles worn to avoid water contact.
Most children comfortably wear contact lenses throughout a full school day, typically eight to twelve hours, as long as the eyes feel good. We recommend switching to glasses in the evening to reduce dryness and allow the eyes to recover. If your child notices dryness, irritation, or any discomfort earlier in the day, they should remove the lenses and put on their backup glasses. Always follow the wearing schedule our team recommends rather than pushing for maximum hours.
Sleeping in lenses that are not specifically prescribed for overnight wear reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the cornea and raises the risk of infection. If your child naps accidentally with lenses in, they should remove them as soon as they wake up. If the eyes feel dry, uncomfortable, or irritated afterward, they should wear their glasses for the rest of the day. If discomfort, redness, or vision changes persist after removal, contact our office for guidance rather than waiting to see if symptoms improve on their own.
Contact lens wear does not cause vision to deteriorate. Prescription changes in children and teenagers happen because the eye continues to grow during development, which is completely unrelated to lens use. Some specialty lenses, such as ortho-k and myopia control soft lenses, are specifically designed to slow this natural progression of nearsightedness in certain children. Our team will discuss whether your child is a candidate for myopia management during their exam.
The clearest signs are comments from your child about blurry vision, difficulty reading at a distance or up close, or increased eye strain and headaches at the end of the day. Because children often adapt and do not report gradual changes, regular six-month checkups are the most reliable way to catch prescription shifts early. This is another reason consistent follow-up visits matter, even when your child feels fine.
Schedule a Contact Lens Consultation at The Eye Center
Our team is ready to guide your family through every step of the contact lens journey, from the first conversation about readiness to ongoing care as your child grows. We take the time to find the right lens, teach the right habits, and make sure both you and your child feel confident. If you are considering contact lenses for your child or have questions about whether the timing is right, we welcome you to visit one of our Northern Virginia offices and let us help you find the best path forward.