Kids’ confidence link shown in vision study

Children who wear contact lenses have better self-perceptions about their physical appearance, athletic competence, and social acceptance than children who wear spectacles, a three-year study has found.

Optometrists Association Australia’s Professional Services Manager, Shirley Loh, says the study, which monitored 484 eight to 11-year-olds, reinforces the need to be open minded when considering vision correction for children.

“Low self-confidence at a young age can have a significant impact on children later in life but long or shortsightedness doesn’t need to be a barrier for a child’s development. It’s just a matter of finding the right vision correction for your child.”

On the whole, the study found children who wear contact lenses have better self-perceptions than those wearing spectacles, but for one group of girls it was the opposite - showing slightly higher confidence.

“Each child has different needs so it’s important to talk to your child and optometrist to determine the best option for your child’s circumstances,” said Ms Loh.

“The study found more than 90 per cent of children who were assigned contact lenses during the trial wanted to continue wearing them, demonstrating that contact lenses are safe, practical and comfortable enough for children to use.

“There are a number of options for short-term vision correction including spectacles and a range of contact lenses such as daily disposables and a new treatment called ortho-K where special contact lenses are worn overnight correcting vision for up to one to two days.

“In some circumstances, contact lenses are more convenient, especially for sport and other recreational activities or school camps and holidays.

“Your optometrist can give you the best advice about what vision correction options are available for your child to help you and your child make the best decision,” said Ms Loh.

To find your local optometrist, visit: www.optometrists.asn.au

Optometrists Association Australia offers these tips for parents when considering contact lenses for children:

• Before making a decision, consider all the options available when it comes to vision correction for your child.
• Help your child understand the responsibilities of contact lens wear, such as taking care of their lenses, and never swapping with other children.
• Daily disposable contact lenses will eliminate the need for your child to disinfect and clean their lenses each day.
• If contact lenses are prescribed for your child, ensure they visit an optometrist every six to 12 months, or as recommended.
• For maximum eye health, encourage your child to wear sunglasses when outdoors. Wrap-around sunglasses not only offer protection from UV rays, they also help to prevent dust, sand or other materials from entering the eye and damaging the contact lenses.