Study: Kids and Contact Lenses

The Ohio State University College of Optometry's Adolescent and Child Health Initiative to Encourage Vision Empowerment Study found that self-confidence increases for nearsighted children when wearing contact lenses rather than glasses in the areas of athletics, appearance and satisfaction.

About the Contact Lens Study

The study was partially funded by Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, a manufacturer of contact lenses. While that does not necessarily mean that the conclusions are incorrect, it does suggest the need for another, independent study to confirm these findings. From September 2003 to October 2007, the college studied 484 children in five clinical centers. Using a detailed research tool called the Pediatric Refractive Error Profile (PREP), they examined the behavior and feelings of 247 children who wore contact lenses and 237 who wore glasses. The team of researchers rechecked and followed the children at one month and then every six months for 3 years. PREP asks the children questions related to activities, appearance, far vision, near vision, handling, peer perception, satisfaction, academics, symptoms and overall vision.

Contact Lens Study Findings

The researchers found that the children who wore contact lenses had improvements in self esteem as well as quality of life. Many of the children reported that handling the contact lenses was easier than handling glasses. "Although contact lenses may require more time to insert and remove, children don’t handle them for the rest of the day, whereas glasses may be removed for outdoor play, sports or other activities, which requires additional handling," said Dr. Jeffrey Walline, one of the principle investigators.

Importance of the Three Ms

Many eye doctors fit contact lenses for the first time mainly based on age, but Dr. Walline said that the study shows that it is better to look at the 3 Ms: maturity, motivation and the child’s mother. The child needs the maturity necessary for wearing a medical device such as contact lens. They also have to be motivated to wear them or they may give up before they become comfortable with them. Finally, a young child needs the support of a parent and assistance in learning how to insert and remove the contact lenses. While 12 or 13 years of age is the most common age eye doctors begin fitting children with contact lenses, children as young as 7 or 8 can wear them very successfully if the needed support is there.

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_{Optometry Times. "CLs help boost quality of life." November/December 2010, Volume 2, Number 10.}