Contacts for four year old

[Temm]

My four year old daughter who has undiagnosed global developemental delay was just diagnosed with anisometropia and strabismia.  Her RX in her left eye is -14 and right eye is -4.75.  She had an exam by a pediatric ophthalmologist when she was two and everything was fine.  The doctor wants to put her left eye in a contact to bring the RX closer to the right eye and then have her wear glasses.  In a month or so, also patching.

My concern...is a contact for a four year old safe??  What could possibly cause her eye sight to go bad in two years?
What problems can occur with a four year old wearing a contact?  I know we (the parents) will have to place the contact in her eye but beyond that can the contact damage the eye?  If we place her in a contact, should we do a daily, weekly or monthly?  Oh, also FYI, she does not speak.

Thank you.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

You're welcome.'
JCH MD

[Temm]

Thank you very much for your input.  I appreciate your response and your time.  Have a good night.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

The image size is too large to "fuse". Likely both contacts and patching will be necessary.

JCH MD

[Temm]

What about only getting glasses with that RX?  What success is possible having one lens much thicker than the other?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

This is a totally different deal when contacts are worn to "save" an eye versus a vain 12 year old that doesn't want glasses solely for looks.

I no longer do pediatric ophthalmology but when I did the success rate with cooperative parents was good.  Look at the downside,  without treatment that eye will be unable to read, drive, recognize faces or serve as a useful backup if something ever happens to the good eye.

JCH MD

[Temm]

Our pediatric ophthalmologist said the choice of contact was up to us but I wanted some additional help.  What are your experiences with children so young wearing contacts?  I remember when eye doctors wouldn't let kids under the age of 16 wear contacts.  Have contacts become so advanced that it's okay to place young children in them?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Your pediatric ophthalmologist will pick the best for your child based on shape of eye and refractive error. Normally soft extended wear are the lens of choice.

JCH MD

[Temm]

What are your thoughts on the type of contact?  Should we do a daily, wekly or monthly contact?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

If you do what the Eye MD tells you its relatively safe. Look at it this way if you don't do it then the likelyhood is that the vision in that eye will be functionallly blind.

JCH MD