Skip to main content
          Skip to FDA Search
          Skip to in this section menu
          Skip to footer links


U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government

					Here’s how you know
          			Dot gov**The .gov means it’s official.**Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.
							      SSL**The site is secure.** The **https://** ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. 
			U.S. Food and Drug Administration
				
        Search
            Menu
							
						Search FDA
									
									Submit search 
		Featured
							Contact FDA
	                FDA Guidance Documents
	                Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts
	                Press Announcements
	                Warning Letters
	                Advisory Committees
	                En Español

					Products
            Food
							Drugs
							Medical Devices
							Radiation-Emitting Products
							Vaccines, Blood, and Biologics
							Animal and Veterinary
							Cosmetics
							Tobacco ProductsTopics
            About FDA
							Combination Products
							Regulatory Information
							Safety
							Emergency Preparedness
							International Programs
							News and Events
							Training and Continuing Education
							Inspections and Compliance
							Science and ResearchInformation For
            Consumers
	            Patients
	            Industry
	            Health Professionals
	            Federal, State and Local Officials 
 In this section:

                Consumer Updates

Consumer Updates

                        Animal & Veterinary
          Children's Health
          Cosmetics
          Dietary Supplements
          Drugs
          Food
          Medical Devices
          Nutrition
          Radiation-Emitting Products
          Tobacco Products
          Vaccines, Blood & Biologics


                        Artículos para el consumidor en español Home
          For Consumers
          Consumer Updates
          What To Know If Your Child Wants Contact LensesConsumer Updates What To Know If Your Child Wants Contact Lenses
  
  					Improper use of contact lenses can cause serious injury. Is your child ready?
	
    Subscribe to Email Updates
    Share
    Post
    Linkedin

    Email
    PrintImage
              split screen illustration of youth appearing to be wearing glasses on one side of his face while a hand is about to put a contact lens into the other eyeEspañol

These days, eyeglasses can look pretty cool. Still, the day may come when your child asks you for contact lenses.

There are pros to consider — and cons.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates contact lenses and certain contact lens care products as medical devices. Contact lenses have benefits. They can be better for sports activities, because they don’t break as frames and the lenses of glasses can. In some cases, contact lenses improve the quality of vision in comparison to eyeglasses, especially for a child who is very nearsighted.

Contact lenses should be used safely, responsibly, and only under the supervision of your eye care professional. Otherwise, serious injury to the eye can result, particularly if the contact lenses are not removed at the first hint of a problem.

Contact Lens Risks and Safety Tips

Kids and contact lenses are not always the best fit.

If you are thinking about contacts for your child, you may want to look at how well your child handles other responsibilities, especially personal hygiene. Common behaviors that can result in injury include wearing another child’s lens; using saliva to moisten a lens; not following the directions of an eye care professional; and wearing cosmetic or decorative lenses purchased without a valid prescription from flea markets, beauty supply stores, the internet and other sources.

In fact, according to study published in *Pediatrics*, about 13,500 (or one-fourth) of the roughly more than 70,000 children who go to the emergency room each year for injuries and complications from medical devices are related to contact lenses. The problems from contact lenses include infections and eye abrasions — meaning that your eye can be bruised from contact lenses.

The most serious risk is that of ulcers (severe infections) of the cornea — which is the clear front part of the eye that shields it from germs, dust, and other harmful material. Ulcers are rare, but if not quickly treated and controlled, can result in permanent loss of vision. Not taking the necessary safety precautions can greatly increase the risk of ulcers. Eye care professionals generally do not recommend extended wear lenses (lenses that can be worn overnight or during sleep) for kids and teens because they can increase the incidence of corneal ulcers.

Daily disposable lenses can reduce some of the risks associated with wearing lenses since a new pair is used each day.

Another point to consider: children with seasonal allergies are usually not good candidates for wearing contacts. The lenses may only increase the itching and burning caused by their allergies.

Contact Lens Safety Tips

Wash your hands before cleaning or inserting lenses. Carefully dry your hands with a clean, lint-free cloth.
	Rub, rinse, clean and disinfect your contact lenses as directed. Only use the products and solutions recommended by your eye care professional. Note that cleaning and rinsing (and the use of most care solutions) is eliminated if daily disposable lenses are prescribed.
	Never expose your contact lenses to any kind of water or saliva.
	Do not wear your lenses for longer than prescribed. Do not sleep in lenses unless they are prescribed to be used that way.
	Never wear someone else’s lenses.
	Always have a prescription for any lenses you wear.
	When playing sports, wear safety goggles or glasses over your lenses.
	Apply any cosmetics after inserting lenses.  Remove your lenses before removing makeup.
	In general, have a pair of back-up glasses handy.
	Never put a contact lens into an eye that is red.
	If your eye is itching, burning, irritated or red, remove your lenses and contact your eye care professional.

What Else Should You Know?

Most contact lenses used by children are not used during sleep. And most lenses are used as a substitute for glasses, to provide only optical correction for blurry vision. However, there are some special types of contact lenses that may provide other benefits, or that may raise additional concerns. For example:

The FDA approved the first contact lens to slow the progression of nearsightedness in children. Kids would begin wearing the lenses between the ages of 8 and 12 years old. (These lenses are “daily disposable” lenses that are worn only during waking hours and disposed of every evening.)
	Some lenses can be worn during sleep. These lenses, which can be either soft or rigid, have substantially greater risk of severe eye infection that can result in vision loss. There is a type of rigid lens (orthokeratology lens) that is worn during sleep that is intended to slightly remold the cornea to temporarily reduce nearsightedness. These lenses are typically worn every night during sleep but are removed in the morning and let the nearsighted patient temporarily see more clearly without glasses or contact lenses. There are some increased risks with this type of rigid contact lens wear.
	Decorative contact lenses can give the eye a different cosmetic appearance and can be made with or without vision correction. Lenses without corrective power are still medical devices, require a prescription from your doctor, and have the same risks as other lenses do. These risks may be increased if the contact lenses are purchased online.If your child is injured while wearing contact lenses, seek medical advice. Consumers and health care professionals are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      08/07/2023
              
              
Regulated Product(s)
		 Medical DevicesConsumer Updates

          
                        Animal & Veterinary
          Children's Health
          Cosmetics
          Dietary Supplements
          Drugs
          Food
          Medical Devices
          Nutrition
          Radiation-Emitting Products
          Tobacco Products
          Vaccines, Blood & Biologics


                        Artículos para el consumidor en español
 Consumer Update Email
                        Subscribe to receive FDA Consumer Update email notifications.
    Subscribe to Consumer Updates
 Footer Links
    FDA Archive
          About FDA
          Accessibility
      Visitor Information
          Website Policies / Privacy
          No FEAR Act
          Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
      FOIA
          HHS.gov
          USA.gov
    Contact FDA
      Follow FDA on Facebook
      Follow FDA on X
      Follow FDA on Instagram
      Follow FDA on LinkedIn
      View FDA videos on YouTube
      Subscribe to FDA RSS feeds
    FDA Homepage
    Contact Number
      1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332) Back toTop