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is 12 too young?? Poll

Skylar is desperately wanting contacts this year for school.  I'm thinking she is a little young, but she has had her glasses for over a year now and does SOO well with those.  Wears them every day, cleans them daily, puts them in a case at night, so he has hit the responsibility levels with that.  I know a 14 year old who still has his MOM put in his contacts and take them out every day.  She knows rules..and if she cna't handle putting them in or taking them out herself, they are out of the question. My insurance does not cover vision, so call me selfish, but it would be a TON cheaper!  (her glasses a year and a half ago cost me over $400!) 

So what do you think??  Contacts or no contacts.....

 

[Poll]

Re: is 12 too young?? Poll

  • Let her try it, if she doesn't take care of them properly, you can go back to the glasses.

    I got contacts when I was 12, right before I started 7th grade. I did fine with them. I had been wearing glasses for 4 years and hated them, especially during dance classes. I was training at a dance studio 4 days a week at that time, and wearing contacts during dance class made a big difference. Wearing glasses can be a hassle for active kids.

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    Mr. Sammy Dog
  • That's where my thinking is.  If we get them, try them for a bit and if it doesn't work out, she can go back to glasses.  and I completely understand helping her with putting them in and taking them out at the beginning.  But like I said, the last kid I know that got them at 12 STILL has his Mom doing everything 2 years later.  He STILL has NO CLUE how to put in his contacts at 14 years old.  THAT I won't put up with. 
  • Several of my sixth graders this summer were wearing their first pair of contacts. Just make sure she keeps contact solution and glasses with her at school so she can take them out if she needs to.
  • I say Yes!  I started wearing glasses in 4th grade I think, and was wearing contacts in 7th.  I wish I would of started sooner.  I would not put them in for her.  I was able to do it myself.  If she can't do it by herself, then she isn't ready.  Just give her some tips on how to put them in.  I agree to keep a case, contact solution and glasses with her at all times in case she needs to take them out.
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  • Lucky is right.

    The optometrist or someone else at the eye doctor's office should teach her how to put them in, you shouldn't do that for her. They know all the tricks and tips that help kids learn to put in and take out the lenses properly. When I got my first contacts, the eye doctor wouldn't send them home with me until I could show her that I could put them in by myself. I guess the thinking was that if a kid couldn't put the lenses in without help, the kid wasn't ready for contacts.

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    Mr. Sammy Dog
  • I got my contacts in 7th grade...the Eye doctor taught me how to put them in and everything...even gave me a little free kit of stuff...which I know most places still do.  The worst that you have to cover is the contact exam...they'll probably give her a trial pair of contacts after that (I got those for free), then she can test it out...if she likes them and does well then go to Walmart and get them cheaper!!!
  • I didn't reply to the poll, but wanted to share here. As someone in the profession (vision care) contact lenses and their use should absolutely not be related to an "age." Contact lenses take a lot of care and responsibility and if you feel that your daughter is responsible enough to take care of the contact lenses on a twice-daily+ basis then you should have that conversation with her optometrist. And, as has been discussed above, if you have to help her with them, then she is not ready for them. She has to be able to manage them solely (in case something happens at school, at a friends, at a game, etc.). I can tell you that there are 8-year-olds that are responsible enough to have contacts and that there are 40-year-olds that aren't responsible enough (but get them anyway).

  • Gosh I hope it's not too young.  I had contacts on my 12th birthday and haven't looked back.  I struggled getting them in/out and losing some the first few years.  But I can't imagine my life without them.  I see so much better.  And after wearing them for almost 30 years now I hardly notice them.
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  • i got contacts when i was 13. i say go for it.
  • Also, make sure she knows how to take care of them. From how you talk about her, she seems very responcible.  Make sure she knows the consequences of not cleaning them, or not taking them out.  (ie. When I was in H.S. I didn't clean them one night and I scratched my cornea - ick!)  Now you don't have them for a year anyway, BUT...still import to clean them!
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  • I think it's a bit too young, but not tremendously. I think I was 14 when I got mine. I think it probably would be fine if you make sure to emphasize the importance of cleaning them religiously and otherwise taking good care of them (i.e., not sleeping in them if they're not approved for sleeping, making sure you wash your hands before putting them in or taking them out, etc).
  • I didn't go to contacts till I was 14 but each kid is different.  I'd say let her try them out and if she doesn't do well with them she can always go back to glasses.
  • I have students younger then her that wear contacts.  I do agree that the decision should be made on an individual basis.  If she's responsible enough, knows how to put them in/take them out, and take care of them then I say go for it! 
    imageBaby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • I vote for not too young.  It is definitely more work and requires waking a little earlier, etc. but, if she's willing to take care of them i say go for it!
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