FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 24, 2001
For more information, please contact: Ed Schilling (800) 884-4CLC or email

IS YOUR CHILD READY FOR CONTACT LENSES?
Washington, DC . . .How old is "old enough" for contact lens wear? The Contact Lens Council (CLC), a non-profit organization serving as an educational resource on vision correction, reports that this is one of the most frequently asked questions concerning vision correction.

Dr. Barry Weiner, chairman of the American Optometric Association's contact lens division and CLC board member, says, "There are no hard and fast rules with children and lenses--I've fit a child as young as 8. Granted, it was a very mature 8-year-old. So much depends on the responsibility level of the child. There are 14- and 16-year-olds--in fact, 20-year-olds--that I wouldn't fit with contacts."

Dr. Weiner stresses the need for an eye care professional to assess a child's vision correction needs and to discuss the child's capabilities and maturity level when considering contacts. Personal wear and care regimens may depend upon the type of contact prescribed, the nature of the vision problem being corrected, and the child's unique eye chemistry.

Regardless of the type of lens one wears, lens care is now easier and more convenient than ever before, and has become a possibility for many children. Basic lens care includes cleaning, rinsing, disinfecting, and storing to keep lenses clean, comfortable and free from bacteria. The CLC urges parents and children alike to follow specific instructions prescribed by their eye care professionals.

Advances in contact lens technology are even enabling a significant number of infants and toddlers to cope better with serious eye problems. Babies born prematurely are at a high risk of blindness because their retinas are not completely developed at birth. Approximately 4,000 preemies are affected by this problem each year. While surgery can protect their vision, this procedure often leaves them either very nearsighted or very farsighted. Contact lenses can provide them the best vision possible and even help their own vision develop better. Spectacles are not a practical alternative for this group.

Any parent considering contacts for a child should consult an eye care professional. For more information on contact lenses, please contact the Contact Lens Council (CLC) at 1-800-884-4CLC or on the Internet at: www.contactlenscouncil.org.

The CLC is a non-profit organization serving as an educational resource on vision correction for consumers and is devoted to promoting the safe use of contact lenses. The CLC is sponsored by Alcon Laboratories, Allergan Optical, Bausch & Lomb, Biocompatibles, CIBA Vision, Cooper Vision, Vistakon, a division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Products, Inc., Wesley Jessen, and the Contact Lens Manufacturers Association. The American Optometric Association, Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists, and the Contact Lens Society of America are advisory members of the CLC.