A child's visual needs are very important. At some point, you and your child may decide that glasses are not the best fit for their lifestyle; in this case, you must discuss with an ophthalmologist and an optometrist the opportunity to use contact lenses (LAC). However, when you bring the new lenses home, your child will need some assistance. While the thought of putting LACs in a baby's eyes may be scary, you can do it with a little practice and patience.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Inserting Contact Lenses into a Child's Eyes
Step 1. Wash your hands with warm soapy water and dry them thoroughly
If you are using a towel, make sure there is no lint or lint left on the index finger you will use to insert the LACs.
Do not dry your hands with paper towels, as this tends to leave more fibers on the finger
Step 2. Position the baby so that he is facing you
Ask him to look forward and slightly upward, while keeping his head tilted back a little. Try not to lean over his eyes immediately, as it will cause him to wink a lot in an instinctive reaction. Instead, rest his shoulder on your side so that he is sideways to your body instead of in front of you.
Step 3. Place the contact lens on your index finger with the concave side facing up, so that it is shaped like a bowl
By doing this, you make sure it's not upside down. Make sure it is the right lens for the eye you are going to insert it into. The child is likely to have a different optical correction for each eye, so make sure you have chosen the LAC with the correct power.
Many LAC containers carry an abbreviation to help you recognize right from left; for example, on a compartment you can read the letter "R" (for "right")
Step 4. Ask the child to open his eye as much as possible
You will likely have to gently lift the skin of the upper eyelid towards the eyebrow using your index finger to keep the eye wide open and allow insertion. It will also be necessary to pull the lower eyelid towards the cheek.
Step 5. Gently place the ACL into the baby's open eye while looking up
The lens should stick roughly like a suction cup as soon as it makes contact with the ocular surface. Try to center it on the iris.
- As you approach the eye, ask the child not to focus on the lens and your finger, otherwise there is a risk that he will start blinking before you have completed the procedure. Instead, encourage him to look slightly to the right of your finger, keeping his gaze upward.
- Check that the ACL is well lubricated with saline so it doesn't dry out too much. If not, it won't come off your finger easily when you put it on your eye.
Step 6. Ask the child to blink slowly
In this way it allows the lens to adapt to the curvature of the eye. You may need to blink a couple of times before the LAC positions itself correctly. Make sure he doesn't close and open his eyes too quickly, as this could cause the lens to pop out.
Step 7. Repeat the process for the other eye
Part 2 of 3: Caring for Your Child's Contact Lenses
Step 1. Help the child put on the lenses only for a short time
It is important at some point to teach him to insert them himself. Many optometrists want their child to practice a pair of trial lenses in their office. By putting them on your own, you reduce instinctive blinking episodes during the procedure.
A recent study found that 8-9 year olds are perfectly capable of inserting contact lenses on their own
Step 2. Monitor your baby's cleaning habits
Make sure he knows he should never wash the ACLs with his own saliva or tap water; instead, you should only use the solutions and disinfectants recommended by your optometrist. He should also store them in an optometrist-approved disinfectant overnight or when he is not using them.
Step 3. Look at your LAC usage habits
If you regularly insert your daily lenses, make sure you throw them away in the evening and don't wear them for an extended period. You should also make sure he doesn't keep them in his eye when he sleeps, unless the optometrist has recommended those for extended wear.
Step 4. Review the correct insertion techniques
If your daughter is wearing the lenses and applying make-up, you need to make sure she knows she has to put in the LACs before using the makeup. You should also make sure that you use hypoallergenic cosmetics and skin products.
Part 3 of 3: Deciding if Contact Lenses are Suitable for the Child
Step 1. Consider the little one's lifestyle
Is he very active? Do you play a lot of sports or take part in several group activities, during which glasses could be in the way? Are you worried about breaking your glasses while playing? 36% of optometrists say that parents ask that their children wear LACs so that they can participate fully in sports activities.
Contact lenses improve a child's peripheral vision when taking part in sports
Step 2. Assess their self-esteem
Do glasses have a negative impact on your self-esteem? Does he have a bad image of his appearance because he thinks glasses make him look weird or different? Recent studies indicate that wearing contact lenses greatly improves a child's self-esteem and helps them feel more comfortable when participating in group activities.
Step 3. Consider the child's habits
Is he good at following instructions and completing his daily tasks? Do you regularly keep your bed and room tidy and clean? If he is responsible and mature, he is a good candidate to take care of contact lenses as well.
Step 4. Talk to your ophthalmologist about getting him to wear ACLs
Ophthalmologists often prescribe them to children aged 10-12, usually in conjunction with a pair of glasses; at this age, contact lenses are considered a secondary optical correction. About 12% of doctors prescribe contact lenses for 8-9 year olds and another 12% for those under the age of eight.
- For small patients, we generally opt for single-use daily ACLs, in order to reduce the risk of maintenance and handling in unsanitary conditions. In the long run, daily contact lenses are usually more expensive than those that last longer.
- In rare cases, ophthalmologists prescribe contact lenses for infants suffering from congenital cataracts.
- If your child has seasonal allergies, he or she may not be a good candidate for this type of optical correction, because eye irritation could worsen with ACL.
Advice
- Encourage your child to be patient, especially as they learn to insert contact lenses on their own. This is a procedure that seems difficult at first, but with practice you will be able to master it.
- If your child complains of irritation or discomfort with contact lenses, tell him to remove them.
- If you continue to have great difficulty fitting the LACs, talk to the optometrist about their geometry and fit.
