MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
8AM - 5PM

OUR CONTACT LENS SERVICE

Contact lenses may be used for children of any age. In infancy and young childhood, contacts are used when a medical condition causes it necessary.  In older children, contact lenses are used when children and their families are ready, as an alternative to glasses.  Children reach this age of readiness at different times depending on their maturity, activities, and need for optical correction.

The Contact Lens Dispensing

Contact lens dispensing and fitting is carried out after a complete eye exam and as a separate visit.  The contact lens dispensing takes place with our contact lens specialist who allows ample time for all that needs to be accomplished during the visit. During the dispensing, trial lenses will be used to determine the fit of the lens as well as the visual acuity with the contacts in place. These trial lenses are ordered prior to the dispensing visit based on the prescription that was determined during the preceding eye exam. The child and parent will be shown how to place the lenses as well as remove the lenses.  This is the portion of the visit that can take additional time depending on the child’s readiness and we recommend that you allow 1 to 1 ½ hours so that the child can feel comfortable and confident.  Once the child demonstrates that they can safely place and remove the lenses, the trial lenses can be worn home the day of the dispensing.

Another important component of contact lens dispensing is learning to care for contact lenses.  While contact lenses are a safe alternative to glasses, they do carry some risks.  The problems associated with contact lenses can be avoided in most cases by practicing good hygiene, removing the contacts each night, and removing the lens if any redness or discomfort develops.

A follow-up visit is necessary approximately 6 weeks after the initial dispensing to ensure that the contacts are fitting well and that the child has good vision with the lenses in place.  This follow-up is when the final prescription is determined and additional lenses can be ordered.

 There is a fee for the dispensing appointment and this is not covered by insurance. The details of the charges will be provided to you by the office staff prior to scheduling the appointment.

Ongoing Eye Care

Once a child begins wearing contact lenses, they must have an annual examination by one of the physicians to determine the new prescription and check for changes in the fit of the lenses.