Contact lenses are a good alternative for those with bad eyesight and who don't want to wear eyeglasses. The age of the patient should be taken into careful consideration when deciding whether contacts would be a good fit. Although technically contacts can be placed on any eye at any age, at some ages glasses would be a better idea due to skill level, eye development and eye condition. Contacts should be used carefully at every age, as misuse can result in serious eye complications.
Babies
While technically any baby under the age of two could wear contacts, it is not generally recommended. Babies go through a great deal of eye development. When they are first born, their eye sight is fairly fuzzy and they have trouble deciphering distances and colors. Contacts could interfere with the natural development of the eye, causing problems for the future. If your baby has a noted problem with her sight, glasses are usually a better fit to correct it.
Children
Children from 2 to 12 are a good fit for glasses if their lifestyle warrants them and their eye development has stopped and shown little improvement. Eye problems usually become most apparent in children, so taking your child for a yearly eye check up to assess any changes in the eye is a good idea for this age group. If your optometrist recommends it, a responsible child can learn how to insert, remove and care for his eye contacts, but he'll need strict supervision from his parents in order to do so.
Teenagers
The teen years are a perfect time to start wearing contacts. While laser eye surgery is not recommended for teens under the age of 18 due to eye development that still occurs, contacts will not affect any of the eye development in a teen. Teens often don't want to wear glasses, as they may feel it alienates them and gives them a certain image. Teens are also usually responsible enough to care for their contacts properly, making it an ideal time to introduce contacts you your son or daughter.
Adults
Adults can clearly take care of contacts at their age, and contacts are a good choice for them. Eyes usually stop any development by age 18, which means any kind of near or far-sightedness, astigmatism, amblyopia or other eye problem is advanced enough that contacts will remedy the problem without the condition worsening.
Seniors
As you age, contacts may become a less viable way to help you see better. This could be for a few different reasons. Many individuals notice that their eyesight becomes worse as they age, and some eyesight conditions may not be fixable with contacts alone. Seniors may also have a problem with coordination, making it hard to insert them carefully or without assistance. Glasses could be a better choice for seniors, as they are easier to use and care for, and improve some conditions that contacts will not.
