There is no definitive age at which everyone must stop wearing contact lenses. The decision of when to stop wearing contacts is a personal one that depends on several factors like the health of your eyes, your vision needs, and your lifestyle. Some people can continue wearing contacts well into their 70s and 80s while others may decide to switch to glasses earlier on. With the right precautions, many people can continue enjoying the convenience of contacts even as they get older.
Quick Summary
- There is no set age when people must stop wearing contacts.
- The decision depends on eye health, vision needs, lifestyle factors, and personal preference.
- Many people can wear contacts safely into their 70s and beyond.
- With age, the risks of complications and dry eyes increase.
- Frequent eye exams help determine if contacts remain a suitable option.
Factors that Influence the Decision
Eye Health
The health of your eyes is the most important factor in deciding when to switch from contacts to glasses. As you age, the risk of certain eye conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, and dry eyes increases. These conditions can make wearing contacts more challenging or unsafe. That’s why it’s crucial to have comprehensive eye exams every 1-2 years over age 40 to monitor your eye health and vision. Your optometrist can help determine if contacts remain the best vision correction option for your eyes.
Vision Needs
Your vision and corrective needs will likely change with age. Most people will require reading glasses by their 40s or 50s even if they’ve never worn glasses before. The onset of presbyopia makes focusing up close more difficult. For contact lens wearers, multifocal contacts or monovision may help compensate for these near vision changes. As your prescription changes, your optometrist can ensure your contacts keep providing clear, comfortable vision correction.
Lifestyle Factors
Consider your lifestyle and visual demands. Do you spend a lot of time outdoors or in dry environments? These factors increase the risk of dry eye with contacts. Work demands also matter. For computer-based office jobs, contacts may remain a practical choice. But for hands-on trades or sports, glasses might become the safer, more comfortable option over time. Think about your hobbies and typical activities too. The more active your lifestyle, the more problematic contacts may become.
Personal Preferences
In the end, the decision to continue wearing contacts is a personal choice. If you find contacts inconvenient or irritating, it may be time to switch to glasses, even if your eyes are still healthy. But if you love the look and feel of contacts, discuss options with your eye doctor to keep wearing them safely and comfortably. There are high oxygen, moisture-rich contacts designed for more mature eyes. With a few adjustments, many contact lens devotees can continue wearing them well into later life.
The Impact of Age on Contact Lens Wear
Let’s look closer at how age affects the eyes and contact lens wear.
Dry Eyes
One of the most common age-related eye changes is an increased risk of dry eye disease. As we age, tear production tends to decrease while tear evaporation increases. Dry eyes become more prevalent after age 40. Wearing contacts exacerbates dryness as the lenses absorb tears. Moderate to severe dry eyes make sustaining contact lenses difficult and uncomfortable. Lubricating drops may help temporarily but do not address the root problem.
Presbyopia
Presbyopia, or the gradual loss of near focusing ability, begins in our 40s. Reading small print becomes difficult because the lens inside the eye stiffens with age. Multifocal contacts can compensate for presbyopia. Some choose monovision where one eye is corrected for distance and the other for near vision. There are also special reading glasses made for contact lens wearers. Presbyopia itself does not prevent contact lens wear but it does require vision correction adjustments.
Eye Injuries and Infections
The risk of certain eye issues also increases with age. Scratches and abrasions on the cornea take longer to heal as we get older. Continuing contact lens wear too soon after an injury can impede healing and raise infection risk. Also, our immune defenses weaken over time. Older eyes develop more serious complications when affected by bacteria like pseudomonas and acanthamoeba. Strict lens wear and care hygiene is vital.
Reduced Manual Dexterity
Inserting and removing contact lenses requires good fine motor control and dexterity. As we age, arthritis and tremor can make handling contact lenses more difficult. Lens solutions and cases must be handled with clean hands. Some opt for daily disposable lenses to reduce lens care effort. Switching to glasses avoids this issue.
Changing Vision Needs
Most people’s vision will necessitate a stronger prescription as they age. Nearsighted prescriptions often stabilize around the mid-40s then later shift toward farsightedness. Contact lens prescriptions must be updated regularly along with your glasses prescription to maintain clear vision and eye health. Scheduling yearly eye exams ensures your contacts match your current vision needs.
Best Practices for Wearing Contacts Past Age 40
With extra care and precautions, many people can continue enjoying contact lenses into their senior years. Here are some best practices for contact lens wear as we age:
Have yearly comprehensive eye exams
It is crucial to have your eyes thoroughly examined by an optometrist at least annually after age 40. Monitoring eye health and vision changes yearly helps ensure contacts remain a suitable vision correction option as you age. Proactively address any eye problems early on.
Discuss multifocal contact options
As presbyopia emerges, monovision or multifocal contacts can provide clear vision at all distances. Multifocal contacts take some adjustment but are effective at managing age-related focus changes. This avoids having to switch back and forth between contacts and readers.
Use daily disposables if possible
Daily disposable contacts simplify lens care which is beneficial with advanced age. You use a fresh new pair of lenses each day rather than having to regularly clean and store reusable lenses. This reduces infection risk. Many contact lens companies now offer daily disposable multifocal lenses.
Choose high oxygen permeability contacts
With age, the cornea requires more oxygen transmission through contact lenses. Ask your eye doctor for the latest high oxygen permeability contacts. This promotes corneal health since insufficient oxygen can lead to complications.
Use preservative-free lubricating drops
Chronic dry eye is common with contact lens wear and advanced age. Carry non-preserved lubricant eye drops to use liberally throughout the day. This enhances moisture, provides relief, and helps avoid vision fluctuating due to dryness.
Take occasional days off from lens wear
Give your eyes a break from contacts regularly, like one day a week. This allows your eyes to fully oxygenate. Wear your backup eyeglasses on contact lens holidays.
Avoid sleeping in lenses
Never sleep in your contact lenses, which starves the cornea of oxygen for hours. The exceptions would be specifically approved extended wear lenses only changed out weekly or biweekly. Overnight wear raises the risks of infection, ulcers, and blindness as we age.
Upgrade lens care solutions
Use newer lens care solutions approved for your specific brand of contacts. Look for disinfecting solutions containing hydrating agents like hyaluronan to combat dryness. Avoid old or expired solutions. Proper lens case cleaning and replacement is also key.
Watch for signs of irritation
Pay close attention to potential contact lens discomfort. Signs of redness, pain, impaired vision, discharge, or light sensitivity can indicate a serious issue. Promptly remove the contacts and schedule an urgent eye exam. As we age, it’s crucial to cease lens wear with any negative reactions until evaluated.
Signs It May Be Time to Stop Wearing Contacts
While many can safely wear contacts longer these days, there are signs it may be time to consult your optometrist about switching to eyeglasses or considering other options like refractive surgery. These include:
Frequent discomfort or pain
If your contact lenses cause persistent irritation or pain, this indicates a fitting issue or eye problem that glasses may better accommodate. Mild brief discomfort upon lens insertion is normal, but ongoing discomfort during wear signals a concern.
Vision fluctuates during the day
If your vision seems to come in and out of focus at different times of day, it could mean your contact lens prescription is no longer the right strength. Or dry eyes may be interfering with visual clarity. Changing to glasses may provide more stable optics.
Reduced tear production
Chronic dry eyes make sustaining contact lenses challenging. If artificial tears only provide temporary relief, it may be time to switch to glasses. Severely reduced tear production can result in complications. Your optometrist can confirm if your tear function is inadequate for contacts.
Recurrent eye infections
Repeated eye infections like conjunctivitis point to an issue with contact lens wear. This may occur from poor lens hygiene allowing bacteria to colonize. Or your eyes may have become too sensitive for contacts as you age. Glasses reduce infection risk.
Vision is no longer correctable to 20/20
If your vision is no longer fully correctable to 20/20 even with updated contact lens prescriptions, this indicates your eyes have likely changed due to the aging process or emerging medical issues. Glasses may provide better visual outcomes at this point.
Handling lenses becomes difficult
Difficulty properly inserting, removing, and cleaning contact lenses because of reduced manual dexterity or physical limitations implies glasses are the safer, easier option. Vision should not be compromised due to an inability to properly manage contacts.
You require stronger magnification for near tasks
The onset of age-related macular degeneration or extreme presbyopia may necessitate very strong reading magnifiers. At this point, bifocals or progressive lens eyeglasses often become the most effective visual solution.
Underlying health conditions develop
Certain medical conditions like diabetes or autoimmune disorders can disrupt eye health and make contact lens tolerance difficult. Under a doctor’s recommendation, it may be advisable to switch to glasses if ocular disease emerges.
Your optometrist advises discontinuing lenses
Ultimately, your eye doctor’s guidance should inform the decision on when to stop contact lens wear based on your specific eyes and health. If your optometrist recommends discontinuing contacts due to any concerning exam findings, follow their clinical advice.
Non-Age Related Reasons to Stop Wearing Contacts
There are also some non-age related factors that may necessitate ceasing contact lens wear, such as:
Pregnancy
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can affect vision and dryness. Contacts may feel uncomfortable. After birth, caring for a new baby makes lens care difficult. Many revert to glasses during this period.
LASIK surgery
Following laser vision correction like LASIK, contact lenses are not recommended for at least the initial 3-6 month healing period post-surgery. Glasses that do not put pressure on the eyes aid the recovery process.
Prolonged computer use
Those working for long hours at a computer may find frequent contact lens wear exacerbates dry eye symptoms. Switching to eyeglasses when screen time is heavy keeps eyes more comfortable.
Allergy or medication changes
Seasonal allergies, new medications, and certain health conditions can provoke eye irritation in contact lens users. This may necessitate glasses until any reactions resolve. Your eye doctor can advise you.
Intense sports or recreational activities
Some active sports like swimming make contact lens wear challenging or risky if lenses shift. Protective eyewear glasses provide stable vision for vigorous athletics. Goggles work well for swimmers.
Financial constraints
As glasses technology improves, some now opt for glasses due to lower long-term costs compared to ongoing contact lens expenses. Insurance coverage factors in as well. Weigh your vision correction budget.
Considerations When Switching from Contacts to Glasses
Transitioning from years of contact lens use to full-time eyeglass wear entails some adjustment. Here are a few things first-time eyeglass wearers later in life should keep in mind:
Allow time to adapt
After prolonged contact lens use, glasses may initially feel awkward until you get accustomed to them. Adjustment takes about 2-4 weeks. The frame should feel comfortable resting on your nose/ears.
Select lenses suited for your needs
Standard single vision, bifocal, or progressive lenses are common options. Photochromic lenses darken in sunlight. Blue light-blocking lenses reduce eye strain. Discuss lens choices with your optometrist.
Understand lens index and coatings
Lens thickness, weight, and optics vary based on the lens index (1.56, 1.67 etc). Go with the thinnest, lightest index you can afford. Anti-reflective and scratch-resistant coatings are also recommended.
Choose frames carefully for fit and weight
Heavier frames get uncomfortable faster. Opt for light flexible frames with nose pads/tips that distribute weight. Getting the right frame fit makes glasses feel better. Have a professional adjust them.
Maintain proper eyewear hygiene
Keep glasses clean. Frequently touched parts accumulate germs. Clean them regularly with soap/water or alcohol wipes. This prevents eye irritation and infections.
Schedule follow-up appointments
Follow-up with your optometrist soon after getting new glasses to ensure the prescription is accurately corrected and the fit is right. Fine tune adjustments early on.
Use a great protective case
Invest in a quality hard case to protect your glasses when not being worn. Some have microfiber linings to avoid lens scratches. Never sit on your glasses! Keep them in the case when not in use.
Alternatives to Traditional Glasses
Aside from standard eyeglasses, other options exist that may suit your vision needs:
Multifocal contact lenses
As previously discussed, multifocal contacts provide a lens-based alternative to reading glasses for managing presbyopia and see up close. Many find these more convenient than switching between contacts and glasses.
Monovision contact lenses
With monovision, one eye is corrected for distance vision while the other is set for near vision. This avoids bifocals but takes some brain adjustment to blend the two focal distances.
Specialized magnifying glasses
For those with age-related macular degeneration, very high powered reading glasses optimize close-up viewing. Some styles are hands-free. These specialty glasses serve specific visual purposes.
Computer eyeglasses
Distinct from your regular pairs, computer glasses have a modified lens power specifically targeted for extended screen viewing distances. This reduces digital eye strain.
Trifocal or progressive lenses
Moving beyond simple bifocals, trifocal lenses add a third mid-range focal zone. Progressive lenses feature a seamless gradient of increasing power from top to bottom. Both provide broader visual range.
Adjustable focus eyeglasses
New electrically adjustable focus eyewear uses liquid lenses that you can tune via dials or an app to change focus for seeing at variable distances. This eliminates need to swap pairs of glasses. Cost is still high.
Refractive eye surgery
For those with healthy eyes and stable vision, procedures like LASIK reshape the cornea to permanently correct vision without glasses or contacts. Surgery may reduce but not eliminate presbyopia need.
Conclusion
The age at which someone should stop wearing contact lenses depends on multiple individual factors. With routine eye exams and proper precautions, many can continue wearing contacts well into their senior years if desired. But dry eyes, eye health changes, and handling difficulty should be monitored. By listening to their eye doctor’s recommendations and adjusting to vision needs, most can transition from contacts to eyeglasses smoothly when the time is right. With all the varieties of lenses, frame styles, and emerging eyewear technologies, glasses can effectively meet visual needs at any age.