Can children wear contact lenses?

Children and Contact Lens Wear

Current literatures show:

  • Wearing contact lenses is a safe and effective way to correct refractive error

  • Clinical studies have shown young children (6-12) are capable of handling & wearing Contact Lenses22

  • Contact lenses have social and visual benefits for children23
    - Following Self-Perception Profile are likely to improve with contact lens

    • Physical appearance

    • Athletic competence

    • Social acceptance self-perception

No Clinical Differences in the Fitting of Children and Adults

  Centration
(horizontal)		 Lens Coverage
(temp. conjunctival overlap)
Age 23 ± 2
(19-25)		 12 ± 2
(9-16)		 23 ± 2
(19-25)		 12 ± 2
(9-16)
n 20 16 20 16
Ave ± SD (mm) -0.07 ± 0.16 -0.10 ± 0.12 1.24 ± 0.31 1.14 ± 0.16
p-value 0.61 0.09

Proclear 1 Day Fitting Data23

There is no statistically nor clinically significant difference on lens fit.

Will Children Notice ActivControl™ Technology?

  • Children may report a slight shadowing of images when first introduced to ActivControl™ Technology due to the myopic defocus

  • Amount of shadowing varies individually and generally will reduces over the first week of lens wear

  • Majority report the shadowing decreases over the first week of wear

  • The slight shadowing does not affect visual acuity or reading performance (MNRead)23

  • Children typically do not find the shadowing bothersome after adaptation

(N=47) Reading speed (sec) Reading VA (logMAR)
Baseline
(Best-corrected)		 4.6 ± 1.1 6/4.8-0.10 ± 0.09
MiSight 4.4 ± 1.1 6/4.8-0.10 ± 0.09
p-value 0.52 0.96

ogMAR 0.00 = 6/6 or 20/20; logMAR -0.10 = 6/4.8 or 20/16

The reading speed and reading visual acuity remain the same as baseline (p > 0.05).

Regular follow up by ECP

Monitoring Effects

Follow up every 6 months for at least 18 months*

  • Myopia Progression
    - Axial Length: best, but not practical (cost)
    - Cycloplegic Refraction: if available
    - Non-cycloplegic Refraction: practical but ensure accommodation controlled

  • Compare their progression with average:
    - 0.75D (0 to 1.8 D) per year

  • Change of refraction ≤ 1.00D at 12 months: Myopia Management System™ is likely having some impact

  • Change of refraction > 1.00D at 12 months: may be non-responder

*Note: final follow up schedule may vary with patients and should be decided by ECP

 
 

  1. Jones LA, Walline JJ et al. Purchase of contact lenses and contact-lenses-related symptoms following the Contact Lenses in Pediatrics (CLIP) Study. Cont Lens Anterior Eye 2009 Aug;32(4):157-65.

  2. Walline JJ, Jones LA et al. Randomized trial of the effect of contact lens wear on self-perception in children. Optom Vis Sci 2009 Mar;86(3):222-32.

  3. Data on file, CooperVision, 2009.