Many people know that kids and contacts have a very special place in my heart.

This Pediatric issue of the EyeWitness is dedicated to our littlest patients,

parents, Doctors and the fitters that work so hard to help them to see—

it truly is a team effort!

 

There is nothing that matches the experience of giving sight to a child with vision

problems. Fitting kids from newborns to teens for medical or cosmetic reasons gives you a great feeling of seeing the joy on children’s faces when they can see. For them to gain the freedom that contacts offer is like no other!

 

We know correcting a child’s vision is extremely important. If vision doesn’t develop

properly in the early years, a child may suffer for the rest of his/her life. They may not be able to qualify for the career they are interested in. They may not be able to pass a driver’s license test or have the independence they desire. Both glasses and contacts can be used to ensure correct vision for the developing brain; however, contacts offer many distinct benefits.

 

Contacts help with medical challenges from strabismus to trauma to myopia, as well as

cosmetic needs from aiding in sports to boosting self-esteem. Contacts give a more accurate picture of the world than do glasses, which can help vision development. Since they are harder to take off than glasses, visual correction is more consistent with young children, plus they don’t break as easily.

 

People often ask me, isn’t it hard to fit little kids? To me that is the easy part; dealing

with the big people that come with them can be the most challenging part. My advice:

Be comfortable with your contact lens fitting skills, trust fluorescein patterns—so

important!, play games with the child, be silly at times, but other times be firm, and

above all, remember these kids may not have anyone else who will fight for their vision

and you can help them!

 

So go out and save the world! Okay… maybe that is a little over the top but if you

don’t feel comfortable dealing with fitting kids find someone that can help you. Study

your fitting skills on the big patients as they can tell you how and what they feel.

You will be so happy you did it!