Contact Lenses Leading to Regular Emergency Room Visits for Children

At first glance, that number seems rather alarming - 70,000 children and teens to the ER each year because of their contact lenses? While that number appears to be accurate based on information from the FDA, it's important to realize that contact lenses require an appropriate level of care and maintenance in order to be used safely and effectively. The vast majority of the emergency room visits associated with contact lenses resulted from children leaving them in too long or failing to clean them before using them. Often times, the injuries were mild to moderate eye irritation or some scratching of the eye.

Rarely are injuries serious from contact lenses, but the issue is significant enough that researchers now recommend that doctors inquire as to whether children or teens are mature enough to manage contact lenses.

But before denying your children the convenience of contact lenses, it's important to realize that children with eyeglasses also make fairly frequent visits to the ER as a result of problems associated with them.

For the most part, it would appear that contact lenses are entirely safe for children and teens to use, with the understanding that parents and care givers should make a concerted effort to ensure proper care and usage of the lenses. In most instances, children simply forget to care for them properly or they are distracted with other activities and unaware of the time that has elapsed between cleanings and removal.

Anyone who knows an adult who wears contacts is likely to have seen him or her with irritated eyes as a result of contact lenses. Proper moisturizing is always required and even following care instructions perfectly may not prevent every problem that can occur with contacts. The recent FDA study suggested that contact lens wearers wash their hands regularly and use the proper solutions when handling the lenses. Also imperative was storing the lenses properly in a clean case away from potential contaminants.

Ultimately, it's safe to assume that the benefits of contact lenses are going to outweigh the potential negatives for most children who qualify to wear them. The key is to remain vigilant and to help children stay on top of the care required for the contacts. As children and teens become more familiar with the requirements of contact lenses, incidents of problems and visits to the emergency room tend to decrease.

Before deciding on the best approach for your child or teen, speak with your optometrist and your child to get a feel for what they - and you - can handle. A few minutes and a little extra attention could possibly avoid an unnecessary trip to the hospital.