Can my child wear contact lenses?

Jason Higginbotham
4 days ago
9 min read

Short answer: they can be, in the right circumstances. And - if you are going to use them...consider choosing ones proven to control myopia progression. Skip to TL;DR

But, before we get into the detail, a personal note from my Richard.

As a parent, I went through this journey myself. I weighed up the risks, worried about infections, and asked all the same questions you are probably asking now. In the end, I decided that both my children were ready for contact lenses, but I knew I would need to support them differently. My daughter took to lenses very quickly; my son needed more help, more reminders and more supervision.

If you are standing where I stood, wondering whether contact lenses are truly safe for your child and how you can be sure they will cope, this guide is for you.

FOCUS POINT

Contact lenses for children are safest when three people work together:

The optometrist, who chooses the right lens, fits it carefully and monitors eye health.
The child, who follows hygiene and wear-time rules.
You, the parent, who supervises, reminds and steps in if something does not look or feel right.

Are contact lenses for children actually safe?

Short answer: they can be, in the right circumstances.

Serious problems with contact lenses are rare, but they are possible. Most complications happen when lenses are worn for too long, slept in when they should not be, cleaned badly, or worn in water. When children and parents follow the rules, the risk drops dramatically.

For children, two types of lenses are usually used in myopia management:

Daily disposable soft lenses, worn in the day and thrown away at night.
Orthokeratology (ortho k) lenses, rigid lenses worn overnight that gently reshape the front of the eye so vision is clear without glasses in the day.

Both types have been used safely in children in the UK and internationally for many years. The key questions are not only “Is this lens safe?” but also “Will my child use it safely?” and “Can we support them properly?”

When are contact lenses not safe for a child?

Contact lenses are less suitable, or sometimes not suitable at all, when:

Your child is very casual about hygiene, for example often forgetting to wash their hands or biting their nails until they are sore.
They frequently lose or damage their glasses and show little concern.
They tend to hide problems, for example not telling you when their eyes are sore or when they feel unwell.
They struggle to follow simple daily routines, even with consistent reminders.
You know that supervising lens wear realistically will not be possible because of your own work or family situation.

In these situations, it may be better to focus first on building habits and routines, or to consider myopia management options that do not rely on contact lens wear.

How can a parent judge if their child is ready?

Think about three areas: hygiene, responsibility and motivation.

1. Hygiene: do they take “clean hands” seriously?

Good questions to ask yourself:

Does my child usually wash their hands before meals without a battle?
Can they dry their hands properly on a clean towel, not their jumper?
Are their nails fairly clean and not chewed down to the quick?

If the answer to most of these is “yes”, your child is part way there. If it is “no”, contact lenses may need to wait.

2. Responsibility: do they look after what they already have?

Clues that your child may be ready:

They know where their glasses are and use a case most of the time.
They bring school letters home, finish homework and remember PE kit more often than not.
When you give instructions, they do usually follow them, even if they need the odd reminder.

If glasses are constantly broken, lost or left on the floor, it might be unwise to give them something more delicate to look after.

3. Motivation: do they genuinely want contact lenses?

Lenses work best when the child wants them, not just the parent. Signs of real motivation:

Your child complains that glasses get in the way of sport or steam up in the rain.
They ask sensible questions about contact lenses, not just “Can I get them because my friend has them?”
They are willing to sit with the optometrist and practise putting lenses in and taking them out, even if it feels strange at first.

If a child is reluctant, anxious or uninterested, starting lenses can create stress without much benefit.

Signs that your child might not be ready yet

You may notice one or more of these:

They roll their eyes or walk off when you talk about hygiene or rules.
They will not let anyone near their eyes, even for eye drops or an eye examination.
They already push back on simple limits, for example screen time or bedtime, and you spend a lot of time arguing.
They have allergies or eye rubbing habits that make their eyes frequently red or sore.
They are very forgetful and genuinely cannot remember multi step routines.

None of these mean “never”, they simply suggest “not yet”. You can revisit the idea in six or twelve months.

What research shows about contact lens wear in children

If you are considering contact lenses for your child, it is completely natural to ask, “Is this really safe?” The good news is that we now have quite a lot of research looking specifically at children, not just adults, and it paints a reassuring picture when lenses are fitted and supervised properly.

Are 8 to 12 year olds “safer” wearers than teenagers?

A major review by one Myopia Focus Advisory Board Member, Professor Mark Bullimore looked at all the available studies of soft contact lens wear in children and teenagers. He reported that:

In one large retrospective study, there were no cases of microbial keratitis (serious corneal infection) in children aged 8 to 12 over 411 patient-years of soft lens wear.
In teenagers aged 13 to 17, the incidence was 15 cases per 10,000 patient years, which is similar to or lower than rates seen in adults who sleep in their lenses.

When Bullimore pooled the available data, he concluded that children wearing soft lenses had no higher risk of serious infection or inflammatory problems than adults, and that the youngest group, roughly 8 to 11 years, may in fact have a lower risk than teens and adults.

Independent commentary from myopia specialists has echoed this, noting that children aged 8 to 12 often appear to be “safer” lens wearers than teenagers, probably because:

Parents are more involved in supervising routines.
Children this age are less likely to push boundaries by stretching wear times or secretly sleeping in lenses.

Soft daily disposable lenses: long term safety

For parents, another key question is what happens to children’s eyes over several years of wear, not just a few months.

One important study followed 8 to 12 year olds wearing daily disposable soft contact lenses for six years. Researchers found:

No cases of serious eye infection during the study period.
No concerning changes in the appearance of the eyes on biomicroscope examination.

This supports the idea that daily disposables, with no cleaning solutions or storage cases, are a particularly safe option for children when properly prescribed and monitored.

A 2017 meta-analysis of paediatric soft lens wear also showed that the rate of corneal inflammatory events and microbial keratitis in children was no higher, and possibly lower, than in adults. PMC+1

What about orthokeratology (ortho k) in children?

Orthokeratology, or ortho k, involves wearing specially designed rigid lenses overnight to gently reshape the cornea, providing clear vision during the day and also slowing myopia progression.

A number of reviews and cohort studies have looked at ortho k safety:

A systematic review by Liu and colleagues found that ortho k is generally safe when fitted and monitored correctly, with most adverse events being mild and reversible.
More recent work has reported microbial keratitis rates in ortho k of around 6 to 7 cases per 10,000 patient-years, which is low in absolute terms but a little higher than the rates seen with daily disposable soft lenses.
Analysis of paediatric ortho k cases suggests that the main risk factors are sleeping in poorly fitting lenses, poor hygiene, and any contact with tap water, rather than the child’s age itself.

Most paediatric myopia experts now describe ortho k as a safe and predictable long term option for myopia control in children who are well selected and closely supervised.

What this means for you as a parent

Taken together, the research tells us:

Children as young as 8 years can successfully and safely wear contact lenses, particularly daily disposable soft lenses, when they and their parents follow the rules.
In the 8 to 12 age group, the risk of serious complications appears no higher than in adults and may actually be lower than in teenagers, probably due to better compliance and closer parental supervision.
Ortho k carries a small but real risk of infection, which is largely tied to hygiene and water exposure, not to the child’s age. When fitted carefully and cared for correctly, the overall risk remains low.

So the key question is less “Is it safe for children in general?” and more “Can my child, in our home, use these lenses safely?”

That is where the readiness factors you are already building into your article come in: hygiene, responsibility, motivation and the level of support you are realistically able to give.

If you think your child is ready, how can you help keep contact lenses safe?

Your role is crucial. Even the most responsible child needs support, especially at the start.

Before you start

Choose the right optometrist. Look for someone who offers myopia management, not just standard contact lens fitting. They will understand both eyesight and long term eye health.
Plan your schedule. You will need time for teaching visits, plus a calm part of the day at home for lens routines, especially in the first few months.

During the teaching phase

Sit in on the first teaching session so you hear the same instructions as your child.
Ask the optometrist to explain what “red flag” symptoms to watch for, such as pain, marked redness or sudden blurred vision.
Encourage your child but do not rush them. Learning to handle lenses is a skill, not a test of bravery.

At home

Make lens wear part of an existing routine, for example “hands, lenses, breakfast” in the morning or “brush teeth, lenses out, story” at night.
Watch your child wash and dry their hands properly, especially for the first few weeks.
Check that lenses are thrown away at the right time if they are daily disposables, or that cleaning and storage steps are completed if they are reusable or ortho k lenses.
Have a clear rule that if their eyes hurt, look red, or feel “not right”, lenses come out and you phone the practice for advice.

Over time

As your child proves that they can manage the routine safely, you can step back a little. Many parents find that after the first three to six months, their role is mainly checking in and booking regular aftercare appointments.

Where do contact lenses fit in myopia management?

Contact lenses are great - but like all things in life. Not everything is created equally. From a clinical standpoint:

Certain soft lenses and ortho k designs do more than simply correct vision; they are designed to slow the progression of myopia.
For some children, contact lenses may be the most effective way to manage their myopia while also giving them freedom for sport and day to day life.
For others, spectacle based myopia control options may be better, at least at first.

The right choice depends on your child’s prescription, age, eye health, lifestyle and personality. It is not one size fits all.

What should you do next?

If you are seriously considering contact lenses for your child:

Book a myopia management assessment: Arrange an appointment with a myopia management specialist near you who works with children and offers myopia control, not just standard glasses.
Go in with your questions written down: Ask specifically about safety, lens type, how often your child will need check ups, and what to do if there is a problem.
Decide together: Talk it through afterwards as a family. Your child needs to feel involved, not overruled.
Review regularly: Myopia is a long term condition. Whichever option you choose, your child will need regular monitoring and may change treatments as they grow.

TL;DR: what parents need to know at a glance

Contact lenses can be a safe option for children when three things are in place: a careful fitting by an experienced optometrist, excellent hygiene, and close supervision at home.
They are not right for every child: Readiness depends more on your child’s habits and personality than on their age.
Good signs: your child is reasonably organised, keeps their hands and face clean, looks after their glasses and is keen to try lenses.
Warning signs: poor hygiene, losing or damaging glasses regularly, ignoring rules, or not telling you when something is uncomfortable.
You play a huge role in keeping lens wear safe by supervising routines, setting boundaries about wear time and checking in regularly.
If you think lenses might be right for your child, the next step is a myopia management assessment with a qualified optometrist.