Kerra S.

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Q&A

I wanna get contacts, but Im not allowed.

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My mom says I’m too young to have contacts. She thinks they’ll ruin my eyes. Is this true?

Your mom has the final say, but “most kids start wearing them around age 11 or 12,” says optometrist Jonathan Goulart, Northwest Eyecare, Freeport, Ill. “As long as you’re committed to following the care instructions, they are perfectly safe,” he says. True, dirty contacts or ones worn longer than recommended can cause infections and even scratch delicate tissue. Your mom might worry that you’re too young for the responsibility, but a three-year study at Indiana University found that kids ages 11 to 13 handled contacts carefully and understood how important it is to keep them clean.

Everyone, kids especially, needs to see an eye care professional to be fitted. Web sites offer contacts, and some drug stores even sell them. Stay away from these. Ill-fitting lenses can scrape corneas, while the wrong prescription can make your head hurt. Want color-changing or wacky-pattern contacts? Those are cool as long as you get them from a reputable center.

More good news is that stories about contacts getting “lost” in your peepers are purely myth. Plus, the prices keep getting cheaper—glasses and contacts now cost about the same. Maybe that’ll have Mom seeing things your way.

BY JIAE K. ON 10/30/2009 7:01:00 AM 50 COMMENTS

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MOD MOD MOD!!
okay so some fat dude stepped on my fiinger today and my middle and index finger are swollen up to the max i cant do anything with my right hand and i write with it!! it also a little bruised and idk if it is broken or sprained helpp!!
thnx!! xoxo

Hey girl, I'm sorry to hear that. Give it a day and see how it looks. If it's still weird, show your 'rents. They'll know what products to use and whether or not to call your doctor.

xoxo

Alyssa B.

soccergirlie on 11/19/2009 8:09:17 PM

i am 12 and i have had contacts for a few months... they are kind of annoying but worth it because i hate my glasses. they do not ruin your eyes and they are perfectly safe if you clean them regularly. yes, they are a huge responsibility, but you get used to it.

imabelieber on 11/19/2009 12:50:52 PM

i really want contacts ive had my glasses scince i was in first grade too. i mean i dont think they want to let me but i mean i dont want to have to wait intill 18 to get them. i guess they think that im not resposible or some thing. Contacts might not work for me though scince i have those dark bags under my eyes. i just hope they let me sometime soon. My parents are really nice but they just wont let me do a lot of stuff like contacts getting and my ears pirced. ill i can do is hope anyway i kinda want them because i think my glasses make me look ugly

vinecrazy on 11/17/2009 8:05:21 PM

oh my gosh i really want contacts. I'm 11 and i dont like glasses. i got them when i was in 1st grade so i have pretty much been stuck with them my whole life. My glasses are ok but i really dont like to wear them the whole day. They get so dirty and sometimes even give me a headache. I've asked about them before but my dad said that he didn' think i was responsible or something. What should i do????????? i also asked to get my ears pired and my mom acted like she didnt want me to do that. i mean do i have to wait intill im 18 to do everything.

vinecrazy on 11/17/2009 7:59:23 PM

MOD Mod Mod
I want contacts but i hav a stigmatism and i have a distance problem.Can i get them?Should i get them?Should i try them out?My mom says no for now but she is looking for possiblites.
-confused

You can. There are new contacts that can work with astigmatism. Have a talk with your eye doctor! Best,

Miliana B.

fanpire1 on 11/15/2009 4:07:03 AM

contatcts are the best thing ever invented. and they do NOT damage your eye, the only way the can possibly damage your eye is if you sleep in them. so as long as you dont sleep in them, you are good. I love my contacts. love them.

sabrinacheer87 on 11/14/2009 1:37:15 AM

I got contacts at age 12. That is like one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I look way prettier, my face looks skinnier and its easier to play sports (especially cheerleading) So i would really recomend contacts to everyone. They are nto that hard to put in or take out either. It only took me a week to get used to it.

sabrinacheer87 on 11/14/2009 1:31:33 AM

I am 13 and I wear contacts! They don't do anything bad to your eyes either.

XOXO

pink86 on 11/13/2009 6:08:20 PM

i got my contacts 3 months ago i can tell u now da best chose i made for my eyes

mayte411 on 11/8/2009 10:40:42 PM

Contacts are completely fine, I've had them since I was 11 or 12. They are actually waay better than glasses with things other than appearance,
- When it rains, you dont need to wipe your lenses every 5 seconds!
- If say, a ball hits you in the face, it wont smash your lenses (Actually partly why I got contacts)

And you CAN wear them in the shower and swimming (with goggles), I do it all the time

kayla111 on 11/4/2009 4:03:43 PM

Ive had contacts since i was 11 (im 13 now) they DEFFINETLY do not ruin your eyes. My mom at first didnt want me to get them cause she said i wasnt 'mature' enough. But then my dr (not eye doctor just my reg dr) told my mom i should get them so that changed my moms mind (thank GOD!) but as long as you have a cute pair of glasses i wouldnt worry about it yet.

xXoWoahoXx on 11/4/2009 2:33:46 PM

I have contacts and I am 13 yrs. old. They sooooooo do not ruin your eye sight. They take a little while to get used to though. I remember it took me a whole hour just to get both of them in at my appointment, so dont worry if its hard. You should just tell your mom that its easier to see with them b/c w/glasses you can kinda see blurry in your pererpheral vision just around the lens, and w/ contacts this does not happen. I would definately recommend them.

tweetiest99 on 11/2/2009 1:10:52 PM

MOD.omg i feel soooo bad.i have contacts and my mother dosnt know.a frient lended them,boughted the for me.i wore them.should i tell my mother or not.my mother will get mean and strict.

Hey girl, since your friend lent and bought the contacts for ya, you should def make sure they're the right prescription. Since your friend can't buy them for you forever, try asking your mom if you can get some yourself. That way you'll have her permission without causing a huge scene. Best, Kristen

Kristen Y.

Autumngurl39 on 11/1/2009 4:41:49 PM

I dont need contacts or glasses so im good, but I think the colored ones are way cool

Check out my profile girls, and please leave a comment, thanks!

SportyGal on 10/30/2009 8:33:23 AM

I started to wear glasses and contacts when I was 9 and I'm 11 now and I've never had a problem with it at all.

Bribri98 on 8/6/2009 3:37:37 AM

i got contacts when i was 12 and at first it was kinda hard but after about a week i was like a pro!

jessicamary on 7/31/2009 12:17:01 PM

i really want contacts

califgirl on 5/3/2009 7:39:19 PM

for your moms info.. wearing contacts slows down how fast your perscription changes. i wear contacts. i love them. you just have to make sure that you wash your hands before putting them in and that they are clean.

mmelanie on 4/13/2009 4:38:48 PM

when you clean your contacts your not supposed to rub them in a circular way or they'll rip..only rub in straight strokes. i have gray contacts BTW. contact lenses are really easy to put in and take out..if you say it's hard you must be not very good with hand - eye cordinates.

dolphin13 on 1/27/2009 10:53:13 PM

Im getting contacts when school is over. Im 14. I am blind without by glasses and they really annoy me.

I give advice on my profile.
see ya
xoxo Katie

coolestsis on 1/18/2009 9:45:37 PM

I am 11 and I have contacts and they don't bug me a lot and I actually like them a lot!

gwentrent on 1/6/2009 4:57:31 PM

I just got contacts this summer and I'm fine with them but it takes me 4EVER to get them in, let alone when they tear in the middle and u have to go blind all day.

So keep your glasses with you!

pg13as4now on 12/31/2008 4:20:35 AM

my parents just approved of me to get contacts. i asked 2 only get contacts 4 christmas and they said yes! i need 2 wait until may to get them though bcuz that's when my next appointment is. better then than never still. try asking ur parents nicely one more time for christmas or ur bday. also b patient if they say no and bring up disposable contacts when u ask. if u try these, it might show them ur responsible enough to take care of them. plus come up with some persuasive arguments. hope this helps!

Kgirl47 on 12/24/2008 2:30:55 AM

i have contacts and im 11. SNUFFYLVR- the person who said it hurts your eye probably has rigid or hard contacts. I have hard contacts and they can get lost in your eye. once, it was like in the back of my eye, so i started frenaking out and called my mom to help me. thank god she got it out. now it doesn't get lost in my eye because i can take them out easily.

Jen0119 on 11/7/2008 8:59:30 PM

i just got them and i got them in on my 1st try but that's because of genetics

xxfrankieroismyheroxx on 10/14/2008 10:22:01 PM

I am 14 and I am still not allowed to get contacts.

daisymae on 9/16/2008 8:29:53 PM

MOD-
omg i feel the same way.
but it's not my mom that doesn't let me,
it's my dad!!!
my mom actually kinda wants me 2 get contacts cuz she knows i'm a girl + i wanna b pretty + stuff.
my dad doesn't care about looks!
in fact, he shouldn't b talking rite now cuz HE HAS CONTACTS.
which is kinda hypocritical of him.
is it really safe 4 me 2 have contacts at this age? (i'm 12).
how can i convince my dad that it's NOT BAD?
i think he's afraid it'll make me get a dry eye or somehow damage my eye.
this blog so helpful.
i really hope it works!!!

I'm pretty sure that's around the age that I got contacts, babe. Ask your dad to take you to a doctor and see what he or she says as a medical professional.

PEACE OUT!

Cassie

Buh-Bah on 9/15/2008 6:50:09 PM

Whoa, i never clean my contacts, i just change the solution every night. maybe i'll clean them more often, i didnt know it could scratch ur eye!! oh i just remembered had them in!!! cuz 2day @ the eye dr. i got a different material of contact lenses. they r sooo much better and arent drying out!!!

biker08chick on 9/13/2008 10:20:42 PM

ive had contacts since i was 12 i cant believe some people thought they could get lost in ur eye! and everyone always asks me if they hurt u cant even feel them! i have to change mine every 2 weeks but i can wear them when i shower or swim and i have REALLY sensitive eyes but i dont dare to open my eyes especially in pools or the ocean (tons of chlorine or salt water) i did lose one in the pool once but that was because i was rubbing them a lot i sliced my cornea once it hurts SOOOO!!!! badly! and then it got infected which made it worse just be careful when you take them out dont be careless and just yank them out which is how i sliced it

snuffylvr on 9/13/2008 10:04:49 PM

Oh, and friend, you might have keritosis pilaris, a completely harmless condition that's passed on parent to child. It's a build up of keratin in your pores and often shows up as small hard bumps that may or not be red. It often shows up on your upper arms, thighs, bottom, or sometimes face. You can go to your dermatologist to get a perscription lotion to treat.

Somebody on 9/11/2008 8:54:32 PM

I personally like glasses more. It takes a little while and you have to have a mirror to put your contacts in, and you can't take them off easily for when you don't need them. Like when I look at close up things I get a headache so I just take off my glasses.

Somebody on 9/11/2008 8:50:54 PM

i am 11 and i have contacts
i was allowed to get them cuz i have good grades but if you want them just show your mom that you are responsable enough

StargirlWizard on 9/11/2008 8:27:30 PM

I have contacts and im 11. I like never wore my glasses cause I hate them so my parents let me get contacts like a month after I got my glasses

brunettee on 9/10/2008 4:32:22 PM

I just wear glasses...lol they are cute tho so i don't mind.

sparky4me on 9/10/2008 3:32:56 PM

i've had contacts since 4th grade. they're okay, but they break really easily. if you do ever get contacts, dont rub them 2 hard when u wash them.

morningglory888 on 9/8/2008 7:34:21 PM

i wanna wear contacts, its just that i cant handle the care for it and my family says i look better without glasses

dwtsfan on 9/6/2008 11:45:12 PM

hey i get hese little pimple/zits on my thighs i think it is because they rub together when i am all sweaty. i do gymnastics so it is really embarissing. i dont want them to show everytime i do a stradle or something,help!

friend on 9/6/2008 11:44:31 PM

how do u send in one of the those questions

friend on 9/6/2008 11:39:19 PM

MOD---

how do you become a mod?

jinxi on 9/6/2008 8:21:17 PM

i just got mine. ive had them about 6 months. it took A LOT of practice but now im a pro!!

jinxi on 9/6/2008 8:20:51 PM

i wanna get some too! right now my plan is to ask for them for christmas (i kno it is a looong time away but it is the best ive got)if i cant get them sooner.and to include this info. thanks GL!!!!!

PokaDots on 9/6/2008 3:53:55 PM

I started wearing contacts the summer before 4th grade... so I was 9, I think.

M... on 9/6/2008 12:46:36 PM

MOD MOD MOD MOD MOD Okay i need to do a craft with my little sister she is 4 and a half it is for aunti day (my aunti made this up cuz she isent married no kids or stuff like that) so i need a quick craft for my aunti i googles it and there is like none that i can do! could oyu please help me thank you! (BTW i dont have a print so that wont be any helplol)

paint a picture frame and then put a picture of you and your sister in it. Laura

jenny on 9/5/2008 10:47:27 PM

It took me a while to get used I got them when I was 13. Unfortunatly I dont have many options for different types (like acue oasis and others like that) because my perscription is so weird, I have astigmatism and near or farsighted I dont know which. So I cant realy tell you which are better ect.

filensave on 9/3/2008 8:45:30 PM

Mod (JANA):Thanks for the advice but the odd thing is i already am wear shorts! If you think of anything elese tell me!!!
"Mod:
I don't know what to do! I have P.E. first period!
So for my next class I'm always sweaty! We can't
take showers and we only have 5 minutes to change!
I am like really sweaty! Like my pants are a little wet on the bottoms my legs are so sweaty!
please! please! please! respond! What can I do!?"

HMMMM... A last minute thing you can do is run a paper towl under cold water and put it on your neck, it will automatically cool you down. xoxo JANA

witnessnikegirl on 9/3/2008 8:43:22 PM

Mod:
I don't know what to do! I have P.E. first period!
So for my next class I'm always sweaty! We can't
take showers and we only have 5 minutes to change!
I am like really sweaty! Like my pants are a little wet on the bottoms my legs are so sweaty!
please! please! please! respond! What can I do!?

Hey babes, wear shorts so you dont get so hot and get those blotting papers so that your face isnt shiny. I had the same issue and i just did a quick fix with some makeup and i was out the door. xoxo JANA

witnessnikegirl on 9/3/2008 7:15:23 PM

i just got contacts last week and they can really hurt if u get something stuck in them my whole eye was swollen because of it the other dy. mine ripped right before school started so im mad cause my new ones dont come in til next week grrrr

fieldhockeyluvr33 on 9/3/2008 7:06:40 PM

omg! i have the same prob! my parents won't let me and i really want them! they had them a long time ago when they were younger and they both said they didn't like them! i try to tell them that they have improved them since then and that contacts are way more easier than glasses!!

emily96 on 9/3/2008 6:21:35 PM

its not to younge to have contacts, i've had mine since i was 11. you just have to make sure you change them every 4-6 weeks and dont wear them in the shower or while swimming....

xox lipgloss0018

lipgloss0018 on 9/3/2008 5:43:57 PM