Teens and contact lenses seem to go hand-in-hand. Teens are very concerned with their appearance and don't want to wear glasses because it indicates they may not be totally self-reliant. They also are very active so they want the freedom that contact lenses provide. Today's teens want contact lenses not only for vision correction, but for fun, fashion, and sports. Contacts have become a way for teens to show off their personalities and their alter egos.

Contact lenses are safer than ever. The acceptance of daily disposables and super-permeable silicone/hydrogels has increased significantly, and cleaning has become almost effortless with "no-rub" one-bottle multi-purpose solutions. Parents who might have been apprehensive about their teens' sense of responsibility feel more secure knowing that lenses will be replaced every day or that the cleaning of two-week, monthly, or quarterly replacement lenses is no longer a time-consuming chore. Silicone hydrogels have made extended wear safer than ever, but even the safest lenses can lead to problems with proper compliance. Teens who can't be trusted to remove their lenses at the recommended intervals or who say they want extended wear lenses because they're lazy or afraid to touch their eyes are bound to get into trouble sooner or later.

What Teen Should Know About Contact Lenses

• Color contacts are medical devices, not commodities.
• Color lenses must be fit by an eye doctor, not purchased from a beauty salon, tanning parlor, or flea market.
• It is important to disinfect contact lenses after each wearing.
• There are consequences of non-compliance with the wear and care regimens. It's important not to compromise your eye health for the sake of convenience.
• Never share colored contacts with friends or purchase extra color lenses to sell to them.

Don't Overlook RGP Contacts

Most teens will request soft lenses, often disposables, although RGPs offer advantages in terms of visual performance, long-term costs, and ocular health. Teen years also are a time when signs of keratoconus may be manifested. They may initially seem to have only a high degree of astigmatism. A thorough family history needs to be taken to determine whether any close relatives have keratoconus. Patients with early keratoconus can usually be fit with conventional design RGP lenses, but those with more advanced cones will benefit from custom designs.

Sports

Contacts have always been popular with teens who are involved in sports. One advantage of wearing contacts is that they won't get in the way while playing sports, cheerleading, dancing or doing other exercises. There are also no rims there to interfere with peripheral vision. When you're active, contact lenses don't steam up or slide down your nose. Plus, they eliminate that annoying pressure behind the ears.

The Lure of Color

Contact lenses are well suited for teens and they especially love the colored options. One of the hottest markets is teens who don't need vision correction but are interested in eye color enhancement or a complete change. A hot category, but it's critical they understand the risks and obligations associated with contact lens wear. Here are some of the types of options available:

Opaque lenses -- Opaque lenses have a colored ring that covers the iris. Light passes through a clear hole in the center (for the pupil) that you see through. Since this hole stays the same size and your pupil changes depending on the light source, it is important to ask your doctor if these are right for your visual needs. Many of the most popular costume lenses are opaque.

Medium tints -- These lenses are used to enhance natural eye color, so they work best on lighter colored eyes. Sometimes it is difficult to notice the change if a tinted medium lens is placed on a darkly pigmented eye.

Soft colored lenses vs. RGP colored lenses -- Soft colored lenses cover the iris while RGPs tend to be slightly smaller than the iris making the color change less complete.

Tinted lenses for handling -- These lenses are slightly tinted so they are more visible if dropped or misplaced. The tint does not affect eye color or vision.

Remember that contact lenses are a medical device so be sure to consult your eye doctor for a complete eye examination to find out what contacts are best for you.