Your Health

Optometrists Share Attitudes And Practices In Fitting Children In Contact Lenses

Posted: 1/7/2011

Studies demonstrate that children who need vision correction are capable of wearing and caring for soft contact lenses.

(NAPSI) - More than half of optometrists feel it is appropriate to introduce a child to soft contact lenses between the ages of 10 and 12, with daily disposable contact lenses being the most frequently prescribed contacts for this age group, according to a new American Optometric Association (AOA) study.

At ages 8−9 (51 percent) and 10−12 (71 percent), optometrists most often fit children in glasses as the primary method of vision correction and prescribe contact lenses as a secondary correction. However, data from the survey of 576 optometrists from across the country shows a gradual shift in optometrists’ approach to vision correction as children get older, with 21 percent noting that they are more likely to fit 10−12-year-olds in contact lenses than they were a year ago. One in five (20 percent) respondents say they begin prescribing contact lenses as the principal form of vision correction for children ages 10−12, nearly half (49 percent) prescribe contact lenses first for 13−14-year-olds, and two-thirds (66 percent) recommend contact lenses as the main form of vision correction for 15−17-year-olds.

“Studies in children’s vision correction confirm that contacts provide additional benefits to children beyond simply correcting their vision, including significantly improving how they feel about their physical appearance, acceptance among friends and ability to play sports. It’s no surprise that optometrists and parents are becoming even more comfortable with the decision to recommend contact lenses to children when vision correction is required,” says Christine W. Sindt, OD, FAAO, associate professor of clinical ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, and chair of the Contact Lens and Cornea Section of AOA.

The Children & Contact Lenses study was conducted by the AOA in conjunction with the Sports Vision Section and Contact Lens and Cornea Sections of AOA, with support from VISTAKON®, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.

The study was designed to gauge current trends in prescribing contact lenses to children ages 8−17 and to understand factors that influence optometrists’ decisions to fit a child in contacts. On average, respondents indicated that children up to the age of 17 account for about 41 percent of their total contact lens patient population.

Of doctors who say they are now more likely to fit children in contact lenses, 30 percent attribute their change in fitting behavior to daily disposable lenses, 23 percent cite “improved contact lens materials,” 19 percent say they are more likely to fit children with contact lenses because of requests from the child and/or parent, and 10 percent say that “recent research/studies” on the subject and children’s participation in activities/sports have influenced their decision.

Nearly all (96 percent) respondents say that a child’s interest and motivation to wear contact lenses is the most important factor to consider in fitting a child with contacts.

Also very important to doctors are a child’s maturity level (93 percent), the child’s ability to take care of contact lenses by him- or herself (89 percent), and the child’s personal hygiene habits (89 percent). While only a very small percentage of doctors say they are less likely to fit contact lenses in children, poor hygiene and maturity levels seen in younger children were most often cited as reasons.

“Studies demonstrate that children who need vision correction are capable of wearing and caring for soft contact lenses,” adds Dr. Sindt. “Optometrists will typically evaluate a child’s maturity and level of parental support in deciding whether a child is ready for contact lenses.”

Other findings from the survey:

• The majority (74 percent) of optometrists surveyed say that gender does not influence their decision to fit a child in contact lenses, while one in four (26 percent) say they are more likely to fit younger children when they are girls.

• Three-fourths (75 percent) say contact lenses that offer ultraviolet protection influence their decision to prescribe contacts for children.

• While daily disposable contact lenses are the most frequently prescribed lenses for children 12 years and under, doctors tend to prescribe reusable contact lenses (i.e., two-week and monthly replacement) more often than daily disposables for children ages 13−14 and 15−17.

• Two out of five (39 percent) optometrists say that parents requesting their child to be fitted in contact lenses do so because the child refuses to wear his or her glasses, 36 percent say parents note that the child’s current vision correction interferes with sports, and 16 percent say parents want their child in contact lenses because the current form of vision correction interferes with daily activities.

• Seven in 10 (71 percent) doctors said overnight wear of contact lenses is not appropriate for children under the age of 18.

The Placer Sentinel | Copyright Notice
The Placer Sentinel | Paul V. Scholl, Publisher
Telephone: 530-823-2463 | Fax Line 916-773-2999
Email: publisher@PlacerSentinel.com | Site Designed and Hosted by TheSiteBarn.com