Helping Kids See Clearly & Confidently

Editorially independent content, supported with advertising from Alcon

I co-own a five-doctor, multispecialty practice in sunny Pembroke Pines, South Florida, where we care for eyes of all ages. While I’m a comprehensive optometrist, my passion lies in performance vision enhancement and post-concussion vision rehab—especially for athletes. As team doctor for several professional and collegiate teams, I’ve seen firsthand how strong, healthy vision can elevate performance and confidence.

Our practice leans heavily toward services over optical sales, and contact lenses are a huge part of what we do. Last year alone, we performed more than 2,500 contact lens exams. A whopping 70% of those were daily disposable fits, and 40% of patients left with annual supplies. That’s a lot of happy patients!

KEY INSIGHTS IN THIS ARTICLE

I love talking to patients about contact lenses. They’re not just a way to correct vision—they’re a confidence booster, a convenience tool, and for many patients, a lifestyle upgrade. In my experience, contact lenses are one of the most underutilized tools in the optometric toolbox when it comes to increasing patient satisfaction and generating referrals.

GETTING PARENTS ON BOARD
As a high myope who started wearing contact lenses at the age of 8, I’ve been there. I remember what a game-changer those lenses were, and now I get to offer that same life-changing experience to my youngest patients—with even healthier materials and better outcomes.

When I bring up contact lenses for a child, I always start by talking to the parent. Typically, they’re surprised to hear how much the technology has improved. I position daily disposables as the gold standard—the most sanitary and flexible option that allows young patients to switch between lenses and glasses as needed. Kids can try them out for special events, sports, or school photos, and before long, they’re hooked and want to wear them all the time.

EASING THE COMMITMENT CONCERNS
For new contact lens patients, we take a trial-based approach. The initial visit is exploratory, not a commitment. I let parents know we’ll evaluate their child for contact lenses and teach them insertion, removal, and safe handling. We won’t move forward with a purchase unless everything feels comfortable, fits well, and the child is confident in putting the lenses in and taking them out. That 1-week follow-up is where the hesitations have disappeared and we capture the sale.

The evaluation fee will cover all their contact lens follow-ups for the year. To ease the fear of getting “stuck” with something that doesn’t work, I also tell families about our flexible policies and free lens exchanges. If they buy an annual supply and need to switch boxes mid-year, no problem. We’ve got them covered.

Some manufacturers even offer a partial refund of the fitting fee if the lenses don’t work out, although honestly, I can’t remember the last time we needed to use it.

FITTING FAVORITES
When it comes to choosing lenses for kids, I prioritize ease of handling and oxygen permeability. My go-to is a daily disposable silicone hydrogel with verofilcon A. It has wide parameters (even in torics), UV and blue light filters, and water-surface technology. Plus, it’s easy to insert and remove. I can confidently tell patients I wear it myself.

For my older teens or college-age patients, especially those with unpredictable study hours or budget concerns, I like a 7-day silicone hydrogel option. I don’t pitch it as a lens to sleep in, but I sleep well knowing it’s FDA-approved for overnight wear, just in case. This contact lens is healthy, affordable, and practical, with a built-in safety net.

TEACHING THE TECHNIQUES
Our technicians are wizards at training patients on lens insertion and removal. I want kids to feel empowered. So, if a parent is hovering too much, I’ll gently ask to “borrow” them and let the child prove what they can do solo. They never go home until they’re confident and successful at placing and removing their lenses.

And just in case they need a refresher, we give them homework: simple techniques to get over the “eyelid clenching” that often inhibits insertion. We basically reinforce strategies we used at the office. But honestly? Our kids rarely struggle.

KEEPING THEM ON TRACK
We haven’t encountered much trouble with kids dropping off the map after being fit. In fact, our best compliance trick is simple—sell the annual supply. It’s the most affordable and convenient option, and it prevents that risky behavior of stretching wear time too thin.

We schedule a 6-month check-in, especially for younger wearers. It’s included in their care and helps reinforce their good habits—and our role as a trusted part of their care team. Quick tip: we never call it a “fitting” at the annual visit. We call it an “evaluation.” Patients are more comfortable with that, and it feels less like they’re being charged for the same thing every year.

SMART PRICING
We use a tiered pricing model for evaluations (spherical, toric, multifocal/specialty), and offer the best value at the annual supply level. The boxes will run about $20 less per box on an annual renewal schedule compared to a 3-month supply. Everyone loves an “instant rebate.” I love when manufacturers offer rebates to both new and existing wearers. That kind of loyalty support helps me recommend those lenses more confidently.

For an added bonus, we sometimes bundle in a discount on sunglasses with the purchase of a yearly supply, which the kids and their parents love.

MARKET THE MAGIC
Don’t wait for parents to ask about contact lenses…bring it up! We run ads in a quarterly “Sports and Activities” booklet that local elementary schools send home. We change the topic of these ads to spotlight different services, but contact lenses always draw interest.

Parents will spend hundreds of dollars on sports gear—why not help them invest in vision? I recently fit a young travel baseball player with a high prescription and astigmatism. His coach (our patient) mentioned to his mom that he might perform better with contacts. After wearing his daily disposable torics through the championships, this boy told me, “I did so much better than I normally do!” That’s the kind of story that brings in the whole team.

FINAL WORD
Fitting kids with contact lenses doesn’t just help them see better. It helps them feel better—more confident and capable, and a little more like themselves. It’s one of the most rewarding parts of my job, and I’d encourage every optometrist to get in on the action. Even if a parent says “no” today, that seed is planted. When the moment is right, you’ll be the one they trust.

Amanda Nanasy, OD
Director, Florida Institute of Sports Vision at The Eye Center
Partner, Sports Vision Pros (SportsVisionPros.com)
amandananasy@gmail.com
Financial disclosure: Speaker and consultant (Alcon Laboratories, Inc.)