The life of any parent is filled with a number of unforeseen decisions and complications. Part of this is simply because no parent can possibly prepare for the entire process of raising children, but the other main factor is that every child is different. Even parents who have raised children already will face unforeseen issues with new, younger children, simply because that is the nature of parenting. Still, however, it is best to be as prepared as possible! With that in mind, here are a few words on an issue that a large portion of parents face at some point: should you get your child eyeglasses or contact lenses for corrective vision?
Of course, the first factor worth considering in this sort of decision is that your child will have his or her own opinions when the time comes. By the time they need corrected vision, children are old enough to have (often strong) preferences when it comes to glasses vs. contacts. For example, some children feel that glasses are not particularly “cool” or stylish, even though they may grow out of those feelings eventually. On the contrary, other children may be a bit nervous about wearing contacts, as the idea of putting a lens directly on the eye can be a bit intimidating to some younger children. If you think that your child or children may one day need corrected vision, you should be prepared for these types of preferences. But, you should also be prepared to explain some of the pros and cons of glasses and contacts to your child.
The main advantages of eyeglasses for a child are convenience and simplify. Of course, contacts and glasses will both correct your child’s vision to near perfection, but with glasses your child won’t have to worry about some of the complicating factors of contact lenses. He or she can simply wear glasses whenever necessary, and take them off with ease. Additionally, activities like sports, swimming, etc. can be simpler, as the glasses can just be taken off before participation. However, for some children glasses can also be cumbersome. They are easily broken and sometimes easily lost as well, and your child will have to be very responsible with them.
On the other hand, contact lenses offer a whole different range of positives and negatives. The main negative is that particularly for younger children, contacts can be a bit uncomfortable or difficult to maintain responsibly. However, companies like Acuvue offer a variety of types of contacts, meaning that you ought to be able to find something comfortable for your child. Additionally, if your child is comfortable getting used to contact lenses and the routine of taking care o them, he or she might appreciate the flexibility and natural feel of contacts as opposed to glasses. Ultimately, the choice depends on the child for the most part, but being prepared with these arguments can help your decision making when the time comes.
Andrea Mitchell is a mother who frequently contributes to parenting blogs. She enjoys all topics related to raising young children.
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