|
Thirteen year old Rebecca, or Becca as she likes to be called, is dancing without distraction. Her vision is clear, and her contact lenses are comfortable, despite the hot stage lights and the sweat trickling down her forehead. On the dance floor, she moves with confidence and thinks to herself: "I like the way I look." Healthy Eyes for Peak Performance (free educational brochure) *Professional exam and fitting fees not included. Valid only while supplies last. |
Thirteen year old Rebecca, or Becca as she likes to be called, is dancing without distraction. Her vision is clear, and her contact lenses are comfortable, despite the hot stage lights and the sweat trickling down her forehead. On the dance floor, she moves with confidence and thinks to herself: "I like the way I look."
Those Big Blue Eyes
Becca's family is known for having big blue eyes. "Becca recently started wearing a little eye makeup, and her eyes really stand out now that she has contact lenses," says Sheli, Becca's mom.
But not too long ago, those ocean blue eyes were somewhat hidden. At age 11, Becca was prescribed glasses because she was having trouble seeing the blackboard. "The frames were really cute but they were a little thick," says Becca.
The glasses worked well to correct Becca's vision, but they didn't fit her energetic lifestyle. Becca has been dancing since age 3. "I get really sweaty when I dance," says Becca. "When I'd wear glasses, they would slide all over or fall off. It can be very distracting."
So Becca asked her eye doctor about contact lenses. After an eye exam and discussion with the eye doctor, Becca was prescribed ACUVUE® OASYS ™ Brand Contact Lenses. "This is my lens of choice for children who are playing hard," says Becca's doctor, Mary Lou French, O.D., F.A.A.O., M.Ed. "These lenses stay moist and comfortable."
Crisp and Clear
Becca says that since she got contacts, her peripheral vision has improved. "When I'm dancing, I can spot turns easier, and I don't lose my balance. I also like seeing the audience's reaction. With my contacts, everything is clear and crisp. And I definitely have more confidence because I look better in contacts."
Data show that children – especially girls – experience improved self-esteem when they move from glasses to contact lenses. Research indicates that contact lenses significantly improve how children feel about their physical appearance, acceptance among friends and ability to play sports. One study also showed that children who disliked wearing glasses felt more confident about their schoolwork when they began wearing contact lenses.
Becca remembers clearly how her friends reacted the first time they saw her with contacts: "Wow, you look different. You look really good," they told her.
Wear and Care
"One of the biggest misconceptions is that children cannot wear and take care of contact lenses. In my experience, children do great with contacts; they are very good at following directions," says Dr. French, who has been taking care of children's eyes for 32 years.
"The first day I got my contacts, it took me a while to get them in and out," says Becca. "Now, I do it in less than a minute. It's so easy."
Her mom adds, "Becca cleans and stores her lenses and keeps track of when she needs to change them. She's even clipping coupons for the cleaning solution and reminding me it's time to buy more."
To Learn More
Healthy Eyes for Peak Performance (free educational brochure)
ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses
Free* Trial Pair Certificate
*Professional exam and fitting fees not included. Valid only while supplies last.
