ST. LOUIS—More than half of the 576 optometrists who responded to a recent survey indicated they feel it is appropriate to introduce a child to soft contact lenses between the ages of 10 and 12.

The study, called “Children & Contact Lenses,” was conducted by the American Optometric Association’s (AOA) Research and Information Center in conjunction with organization’s sports vision and contact lens and cornea sections, with support from the Vistakon division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care. The study also indicated that daily disposable CLs are the most frequently prescribed contacts for this age group.

At ages 8 to 9 (51 percent) and 10 to 12 (71 percent), optometrists most often fit children in glasses as the primary method of vision correction and prescribe CLs as a secondary correction. However, the survey indicates a gradual shift in ODs’ approach to vision correction as children get older, with 21 percent saying they are more likely to fit 10 to 12 year olds in contact lenses than they were a year ago. One in five of the respondents said he or she begins prescribing contact lenses as the principal form of vision correction for children aged 10 to 12; nearly half (49 percent) prescribe CLs first for 13 and 14 year olds, and two-thirds (66 percent) recommend contacts as the main form of vision correction for 15 to 17 year olds.

On average, respondents indicated that children up to age 17 account for about 41 percent of their total CL patient population.

Of the respondents who said they are now more likely to fit children in CLs, 30 percent attributed their change in fitting behavior to daily disposable lenses, while 23 percent cited “improved contact lens materials.” Nineteen percent said they are more likely to fit childen with CLs because of requests from the child and/or parent, and 10 percent said “recent research/studies” on the subject and children’s participation in activities/sports have influenced their decision.