Contact Lenses for Children as Young as Eight

Although many optometrists seldom consider contact lenses for children under 12, a recent study in paediatrics has shown that children as young as 8 can be given the opportunity to wear contact lenses. Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Vision Care this study looked at the following:

1. Does it take more time to fit children with contacts?
Overall children and adolescents required the same amount of consultation time with their optometrist to ensure a successful lens fitting. Children, on average, require approximately 10 minutes longer to master the techniques of lens insertion and removal.

2. Do children enjoy contact lenses?
Reports of improved quality of life within 1 week of wearing contact lenses were received by both children and teens. Both groups felt that contact lenses improved their appearance and made participation in sports easier.

Are you still worried?
Children and adolescents in the study experienced similar difficulties initially, all of which occur among adults too. No safety differences were noted between children and teenagers in terms of what could be seen inside the eyes.

As this study only ran for several months it did not examine the long-term safety of wearing contact lenses. However, other similar studies have examined contact lens wear in children over a period of three years, and did not show any increase in problems compared to those experienced by adults.

So, what are we saying?
Younger children can be successful contact lens wearers. Granted, they may have more difficulty wearing contact lenses if they have small eyes, poor hygiene, or if they can’t act independently of their parents but, for the most part, these factors can be overcome.

Kiddies Lenses
The types of contact lenses suitable for children include many of those available for adult wear. Daily disposables are possibly the best choice as they do not require cleaning and are easier to replace if lost or torn. 

The Gift of Vision

Themba is a non-profit organisation established in 2003. Their vision is to empower poor, disadvantaged members of the community and enable them to become self-sufficient.

Ladies are taught different handcrafts such as beading, sewing and now even mosaic. Last year, sales generated a total of R310 000 that went into the pockets of these women to provide for their families.

Vision Optometrists have been associated with Themba since 2004. We provide bi-annual screenings at the Warehouse at Diepsloot and offer comprehensive eye examinations at no charge to these ladies who often battle with their vision due to the tremendous strain on their eyes.

Spectacles are provided to those in need at a minimal cost and the gratitude and appreciation with which these remarkable women accept their eyewear, is touching. Vision Optometrists will continue these screenings in future.

Vision Optometrists have also started working with a non profit organization called Refilwe to assist with their visual needs. This organisation tackles issues such as HIV and Aids, limited education, unemployment, lack of skills and poor housing. We offer free eye examinations and the necessary visual aid as a contribution to this worthy cause. 

Internal News

• One of our Optical Dispensers, Faazila Hercules and her husband, Shadley are proud to announce the arrival of their beautiful daughter, Ameera.

• Werner Noeth and his wife Susan are expecting their second child, Liam in November. Their daughter Ané, who turned two on 22 September, is looking forward to the arrival of her new brother.

• We have many birthdays to celebrate before the end of the year:

• Lyton, our technician and spectacle guru, celebrates his birthday on 25
  October. Here’s to many more Mr. Ndlovu!
• The Nunes family will be celebrating as Felomena’s husband, Gil turns 70 on
  the 17th of October and Felomena herself will have her birthday on the 24th
  of December. Congratulations!
• Our dedicated and lovely Ruth is also turning a year older on the 12th of
  October, happy birthday Ruthie!
• John Schubach’s eldest son, James will turn 7 on the 13th of October and
  his wife Andrea celebrates her special day on the 23rd of November.
  Wishing you special times and a blessed year.
• Tamia will be blowing out some candles on the 11th of November, happy
  happy!!