Can children wear contact lenses?

There’s no ‘official’ age for you to start wearing contact lenses. But it all depends on whether the optometrist recommends it and if a parent or guardian thinks someone is mature enough, as well as able to clean, care and handle contact lenses on their own.

Children are quick learners and have proven to be just as capable at wearing lenses as adults – but a parent or guardian may need to supervise them to start with.

It’s easy to get started with contact lenses, just book an appointment for your child to see your optometrist for a contact lens assessment. They’ll be happy to talk you through the process and can help you to decide whether contact lenses would be a good idea for your child. They’ll recommend the best type of lens depending on their lifestyle, prescription, usage, and wearing time.

As long as your child has an up‑to‑date prescription, they’ll then get a free trial to see if they get on with them. This is all without obligation, so if your child decides contact lenses aren’t for them, we’ll talk about other options.

If they’d like to start wearing contacts, you may prefer to have them fitted during school holidays. That way you and your child can adjust to using and wearing contact lenses, without having to compete with the mad morning rush.