How long can a child wear contact lenses? Blog of the online store "Ochkarik"

Many parents are concerned about the question: can children who complain of poor vision wear soft contact lenses (SCLs)? After all, while preschool children are usually calm about glasses, schoolchildren, especially teenagers, often refuse them because they are afraid of getting an offensive nickname or believe that even modern stylish frames do not suit them. Of course, there are other reasons why parents think about replacing glasses with lenses, for example, safety, because children are usually very active. Sports training, physical education classes and just playing outside can result in a fall or injury. If the child is wearing glasses at this moment, there is always a risk that they will fall and break. In this case, the consequences may be more serious.

Fortunately for children and their parents, modern materials used to produce lenses are of high quality, and even elementary school students can wear SCLs instead of glasses.

How to choose lenses for children?

As is the case with adult patients, the choice of lenses is the responsibility of the physician. Neither parents, nor the children themselves, nor anyone else can choose the optimal lenses for a child. Friends and acquaintances can only give recommendations; for example, a child’s classmates can share with him information that they themselves wear contact lenses to correct visual acuity and feel good.

When choosing lenses for children, the ophthalmologist usually takes into account several factors:

Indications. Most often, lenses are prescribed for myopia (myopia) and farsightedness (hypermetropia), but other pathologies also occur, for example, astigmatism, absence of a lens, amblyopia (lazy eye), etc. In some cases, SCLs are prescribed even to very young children who cannot wear glasses simply due to age, or in cases where spectacle correction is less effective.
Child's age. Contact lenses themselves have no age-related contraindications. Therefore, you need to build on other factors. For example, you need to see if the child will be able to take care of the lenses independently, will he remember to wash his hands before putting them on and taking them off, change the solution every day, disinfect them with special tablets, will he start leaving SCLs on his eyes at night, will he not whether to rub your eyes when they are wearing lenses, whether you will be lazy to wash the container regularly, etc. There are many questions that the doctor and the baby’s parents must answer.
Wishes of children and their parents. If a child wants to wear daily contact lenses, the doctor will be able to choose the best option. The advantages of such models are that they practically do not need to be looked after: you just need to follow the rules of personal hygiene, and the SCLs themselves need to be thrown away, removed from your eyes. If parents need a more budget-friendly option, a specialist can recommend routine replacement lenses. They are usually cheaper than their one-day counterparts, as they last for a longer time. But here you need to understand that it is more difficult to care for such lenses, and besides, they will need a solution, which also costs money. In some cases, the child wants to experiment and try out color options. It all depends on medical indications and the position of the parents.
Corneal sensitivity. This factor is also associated with the age of the patients. The fact is that the sensitivity of the cornea in children is lower than in adults, so it is so important that the selected lenses have the highest possible oxygen permeability.

At what age can you work?

According to Part 3 of Art. 20 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, persons who have reached the age of 16 (sixteen) years have the right to enter into labor relations (work) as employees, and in cases and in the manner established by the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, persons who have not reached the specified age.

Part-time work for persons under the age of 18 is not allowed (Part 5 of Article 282 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation). Consequently, if a 17-year-old worker has a main place of work, he does not have the right to additionally work part-time due to his age.

The duration of daily work (shift) cannot exceed:

for workers aged from fifteen to sixteen years - 5 hours and no more than 24 hours per week, for workers from sixteen to eighteen years old - 7 hours and no more than 35 hours per week.

When can you enter into an employment contract?

As a general rule, the conclusion of an employment contract is allowed with persons who have reached the age of 16 years (Part 1 of Article 63 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation). An employer has the right to hire persons under 16 years of age to perform light work that does not harm their health if they:

have reached the age of 15 and are receiving basic general education. In this case, the work must be performed in free time from study without prejudice to the development of the educational program (part 2 of article 63 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, paragraph 2 of paragraph 6 of the Resolution of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation dated January 28, 2014 No. 1);
have reached the age of 15 years and by the time the employment contract was concluded, they had received basic general education or stopped their education early (part 2 of article 63 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, paragraph 2 of paragraph 6 of the Resolution of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation dated January 28, 2014 No. 1);
have reached the age of 14 and are receiving general education. In this case, the work must be performed in free time from study without compromising the development of the educational program. Mandatory conditions for concluding an agreement are the written consent of one of the parents (guardian) and the permission of the guardianship and trusteeship authority. If the other parent does not agree to an employment contract being concluded with a minor, it is necessary to take into account the opinion of the minor and the position of the guardianship and trusteeship authority (part 3 of article 63 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, paragraph 3 of clause 6 of the Resolution of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation dated January 28, 2014 No. 1);
have not reached the age of 14 years - to work in cinematography organizations, theaters, theater and concert organizations, circuses, physical education, sports and other organizations (Part 4 of Article 63, Article 348.1, 348.8 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, paragraph 1 of Art. 5 of Law No. 329-FZ). Cinematography organizations, theaters, theatrical and concert organizations, circuses can employ minors only to participate in the creation and (or) performance (exhibition) of works (Part 4 of Article 63 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation). Athletes under the age of 14 can only be involved in preparing for competitions in certain sports and participating in such competitions (part 1 of article 348.1, part 5 of article 348.8 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, paragraph 4 of paragraph 6 of the Resolution of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation dated January 28, 2014 No. 1).

Athletes and filmmakers

An employment contract on behalf of an employee under 14 years of age is signed by his parent (guardian). The permission of the guardianship and trusteeship authority indicates the maximum permissible duration of daily work and other conditions under which work can be performed (part 4 of article 63, part 5 of article 348.8 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, paragraph 4 of paragraph 6 of the Resolution of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation dated 01/28/2014 No. 1).

In Art. 11 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation states that labor legislation and other acts containing labor law norms do not apply to persons working on the basis of civil law contracts.

For reference: At what age can you open an individual entrepreneur?

When is a child ready to wear contact lenses?

There are no universal recommendations regarding at what age a child can begin wearing contact lenses to correct visual acuity. It's all about the peculiarities of his character, the level of his responsibility and awareness. Some people understand that they need to take care of their lenses every day, already at the age of 6 years, some - upon reaching 8 years, and others should not switch from glasses to lenses until they are 10-14 years old.

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Braces for children: which ones are better, at what age are they placed?

Every person wants to have a beautiful smile, but not everyone has naturally straight teeth. Malocclusion in children and adults is a common phenomenon. It occurs in more than 70% of people on the planet to a greater or lesser extent, and can be congenital or acquired - for example, as a result of injury. Most often, the incorrect position of the teeth is formed in childhood, so the alignment of the dentition is appropriate and important immediately after the eruption of the molars.

Braces are the most effective way to correct malocclusion for people at any age, but it is best to do this in childhood and adolescence, as teeth are more amenable to correction and the process takes less time. Let’s figure out at what age a child can get braces and which version of the braces system is better to choose.

Why do you need to correct your bite?

The most common reason why patients decide to undergo orthodontic treatment is the desire to get aesthetic, straight teeth and get rid of psychological discomfort when communicating. In fact, correcting your bite solves many more problems that, at first glance, do not seem obvious.

An incorrect bite can lead to abrasion of the enamel, the occurrence of inflammatory processes due to difficulties with careful dental hygiene, diction disorders, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, headaches due to improper closure of the jaws and pinched nerve endings, and other unpleasant moments. Therefore, teeth straightening is not only about obtaining an aesthetic smile, but also an investment in the child’s health in the future. The sooner you decide which braces are best for your child and, if age allows, begin treatment, the faster the result will be obtained.

At what age do children get braces?

The question at what age is best to get braces for children is of interest to all parents who are faced with the task of correcting a child’s bite. There is no single correct answer; orthodontists have slightly different opinions. The most popular recommendation from dentists regarding the optimal age for row alignment is 12-14 years. This period is considered the most optimal for at least two reasons - the dentition is still easy to correct, but the tooth enamel already has sufficient thickness and strength to withstand orthodontic treatment without damage.

At the same time, a child’s bite can be corrected both at an earlier and at an older age. If the individual characteristics of a young patient’s teeth allow, teeth straightening can begin as early as 7-10 years of age. At this age, treatment is carried out using special plates or trays, as well as trainers. Trainers are used to prevent bite problems at the initial stage by training the muscles.

At an older age, effective correction of bites of any complexity can mostly be done using braces of various types. Let's look at which braces are best for children and how they differ from each other.

What braces are best for children?

There are several types of braces that can be used to straighten the bite of children and teenagers:

Metal . The most popular and inexpensive option for orthodontic construction, which is most often used to straighten children’s teeth. If the question arises, which braces are best for a child from budget options, this solution is best suited. Excellent value for money and quality.
Ceramic. The system looks beautiful on the teeth and is not very noticeable due to the color of the locks, which is similar to the shade of enamel. Rarely used to align children's bites due to the fragility of the structure, they are more often used for adult patients.
Sapphire. An aesthetic bracket system that is less noticeable on the teeth in comparison with metal structures, but at the same time comparable to them in effectiveness. In terms of cost, such designs will be more expensive, so this option is slightly less popular.
Lingual. A version of the system that is attached to the back wall of the teeth, so it is invisible to others when communicating and smiling. The advantage is better aesthetics compared to other braces, the disadvantages are more difficult care and high cost of the design. For children, this option is rarely used due to labor-intensive oral hygiene and the risk of injury to the mucous membranes of the tongue and cheeks.

Each little patient is unique, so it is possible to say which braces are best for a child and to correctly select the optimal system for correcting the bite, taking into account individual characteristics, only after a personal consultation with a specialist and diagnostics. Contact orthodontists at the medical research center in Yekaterinburg - we will find an effective solution. We are always happy to help you!

Still have questions?

Ask them to our doctor

Are lenses harmless for children?

By themselves, soft contact lenses for vision correction are absolutely safe, so ophthalmologists safely give recommendations for wearing them to children of all ages. They are in many ways safer than glasses, since they will not fall off, break or injure the eyes if a child suddenly falls, they do not interfere with sports activities, and do not distort the shape and color of objects (which happens if a child wears glasses and forgets to wipe and wash them regularly ), do not limit the field of vision and relieve eye strain. Allergies to materials for making lenses (hydrogel, silicone hydrogel), as well as allergies to solutions, are very rare, so you should not be afraid of them either.

SCLs can cause harm only when they are not properly cared for and the wearing regime is not followed. For example, the child does not take them off at night (there are also exceptions here, but a doctor must give permission for night mode), one-day models continue to be worn on the second and third day, simply washed in the solution, does not change the container when purchasing new products, etc.

Can I wear lenses every day?

Daily wearing of lenses or glasses cannot negatively affect the health of the eyes and does not spoil the vision of a small patient, if you follow all the recommendations of the ophthalmologist and if the correction means are selected correctly. They relieve eye strain and allow you to see the world clearly and brightly.

And refusal of correction means, for example, if a child puts on lenses only before sports competitions, exams, holidays or other important events for him, and the rest of the time he goes without glasses and contact lenses, on the contrary, can negatively affect the condition of the visual organs. The only exception is when such recommendations are given by an ophthalmologist.

There are parents who consider MCL to be more dangerous than glasses, so they advise their children to wear glasses in everyday life, and lenses only in exceptional cases. If this suits the child, then he can combine different means of vision correction. Let us only clarify that the lenses are absolutely safe if you follow the wearing rules and such alternation is not necessary.

It is important to ensure that the child does not wear lenses longer than prescribed: usually it is up to 14 hours, depending on the selected model and the doctor’s individual recommendations. Don’t forget to change the packaging of your lenses when your previous vision correction products expire: monthly lenses need to be renewed once a month, biweekly lenses once every two weeks, and daily lenses cannot be worn for two days in a row. There are no exceptions to this rule. If you want to save money and simply disinfect the contact lenses after the expiration date to extend their service life, rather than opening a new package, you risk harming your eye health.

Which lenses are best for a child?

To correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, or other vision changes, your child is often advised to wear daily lenses. There are many arguments in their favor:

They are very easy to care for. A child, especially a small one, is just getting used to wearing lenses, so he can easily forget to pour in a new solution, renew the lenses after their wearing period has expired, disinfect them, change them, and thoroughly wash the container. With one-day SCLs everything is much simpler: just remove and throw them away. The main thing is not to wear it for longer than the recommended time and remember to wash your hands before putting on and taking off your lenses.
You won't be able to wear them for much longer. If you don't write down what day your child put on new monthly or quarterly lenses, it's easy to forget the date and wear them longer than expected. This won't happen with day-olds: each pair is simply discarded at the end of the day. And meeting the deadlines is very important, because every day more and more protein, bacterial and other deposits accumulate on the surface of the lenses, microcracks appear, which are more dangerous for children’s eyes than for adults, since a child’s eyes are more sensitive.

Of course, the decision depends on many factors, and should only be made by a doctor after a thorough diagnosis. The desire of parents to choose ideal contact lenses for their child is understandable, but if a specialist recommends quarterly models, it is impossible to buy products from the same company, but with daily replacement. It is better to immediately discuss this issue with an ophthalmologist.

Which braces are best for a child?

Wearing orthodontics is a long process, and the structure is almost always noticeable on the teeth. If the question arises about when to get braces for a teenager, he often refuses for fear of ridicule from his peers. Modern dentistry offers systems that differ in appearance and cost. The specific type is determined by the doctor, based on the volume of treatment and the condition of the teeth. You can discuss options with him and choose the one that suits parents and child.

The most common types of braces used in children are:

Lingual. This design is attached to the inner surface of the tooth, maintaining a natural smile. Their effectiveness is not inferior to conventional metal ones, but there are significant disadvantages - due to the peculiarities of their location, it is more difficult to maintain hygiene and notice damage to the enamel in a timely manner; the wear period is usually extended. Also, lingual braces interfere with the tongue when pronouncing sounds, so a common side effect is impaired diction.
Metal. Such braces have been used for a very long time and have proven their effectiveness even in the most advanced cases. When metal braces are recommended for children, age plays a special role. They are inexpensive compared to their analogues, but are too noticeable on the teeth, so they are not very popular among teenagers. In addition to the price, the metal structure is distinguished by its reliability - the system holds up well and is difficult to damage.
Sapphire. Made from artificial sapphires, they are almost invisible on the teeth due to the transparency of the material. The smile remains completely natural, and this makes this type of braces very popular. But they have two main disadvantages - fragility and price. The cost of the structure is approximately 1.5 times higher than its metal counterpart, and is also noticeably inferior in wear resistance.
Unligated. The absence of ligatures - connecting elements for fixing the arch - makes the braces less noticeable. But these are not the only advantages. It’s easier to care for your teeth with such a system, and you can visit the doctor less often, because you don’t have to replace fasteners. The main and, perhaps, the only disadvantage is the cost: it is noticeably higher compared to simple metal ones.
Ceramic. This type of braces is made from dental ceramics, so they are almost invisible on the teeth, and the quality of correction is comparable to metal. They are quite durable, but at the same time they cost significantly more and are difficult to maintain. If the child is already a teenager and can handle hygiene independently, a ceramic system will be an excellent solution.
Plates. These are not exactly braces, but essentially they also belong to orthoconstructions. They are inexpensive, easy to care for and comfortable to wear. But with the help of plates, only minor violations can be corrected at an early age, when the jaw is still growing. It can not be used all day long or from an earlier age, so this alternative to braces is well suited for preschool children.

Installing braces scares many people: children because of the visibility of the structures, parents because of the price, and everyone together because of the complexity of the procedure and care. But often orthodontic structures are the only way to make a beautiful smile and maintain oral health. And if you have problems with your bite, then this is also a way to maintain proper digestion and clear diction.

We told you at what age children get braces and what kind they are. Take care of your teeth, consult a doctor in a timely manner - and then the reflection in the mirror will delight you with a beautiful smile!