Marc & Steven

In this section:

• The Live Chat: We conducted an insightful live chat with the Burns family, and this is an absolute must-watch for anyone contemplating fitting their children under 10 with night lenses. During the interview, you’ll see that there were some initial challenges with Steven, the 5-year-old, which took a couple of weeks to resolve with guidance from their Optometrist. However, after that initial adjustment period, it was smooth sailing. As for Marc, who was 7 at the time, he experienced no issues from day 1.
• The Parent View: Gain valuable insights from John and Marie, the parents who made the decision to use night lenses for their young children.
• Marc’s Thoughts, 10 Years On: Marc, now a teenager, shares his perspective on night lenses both as a child and as an active young adult. This provides a unique and valuable long-term view of the experience.

NIGHT LENSES & ME | MARC, WHO STARTED WEARING THEM AGED 7

When I was about seven years old, I was prescribed glasses for classroom use, mainly to see the whiteboard. However, it quickly became apparent that I needed them all the time for clear vision.

Wearing glasses made me feel self-conscious, as I was the only child in my class who required them. My parents explored the idea of getting contact lenses for me, but the first optician we consulted wouldn’t prescribe them for someone my age. They said I’d have to wait until I was at least twelve. We sought a second opinion, and luckily, the other optician prescribed soft contact lenses. However, I struggled to put them in and take them out. Fortunately, my grandmother read about night lenses in a newspaper article and shared the information with my dad. He, in turn, discussed it with his optician, Scott Brown. Unlike the previous opticians, Scott was well-informed about the development of night lenses and their potential life-changing benefits, especially for children.

Night lenses truly transformed my life. Throughout my school years, I navigated the ups and downs without the inconvenience and social stigma of wearing glasses. In terms of sports, I played boys’ club football and even earned a black belt in taekwondo at the age of 16. Swimming, skiing, and snowboarding were also enjoyable activities, made even better by having clear vision. I have a strong interest in music, playing acoustic, electric, and bass guitars. Additionally, I frequent the gym and love taking long walks with our dog. Currently, I’m in the final weeks of secondary school, and in a few months, I’ll be heading to Strathclyde University to study Law and Economics. I look forward to wearing night lenses for as long as I can.

My younger brother, Steven, now fifteen years old, wore glasses only briefly, and he hardly remembers wearing them. He was just five when Scott prescribed night lenses. Initially, our parents helped him put them in and take them out, which was a bit challenging for both sides. With Scott’s guidance and some patience, Steven eventually learned to handle the lenses independently. It quickly became a routine part of his nightly regimen. Steven has excelled in football since a very young age, earning numerous awards for his school and club teams. He acknowledges that wearing glasses would have made his football journey much more challenging. Steven also enjoys going to the gym, running, and playing the drums at a high standard. To relax, he engages in online FIFA gaming sessions with his friends.

Would I recommend night lenses to other children and teenagers? Absolutely!
 

NIGHT LENSES & US | MARC AND STEVEN’S PARENTS, JOHN AND MARIE

Why did you pick night lenses for Marc & Steven instead of glasses or regular daytime contacts?

Night lenses looked like the way to give our boys a “normal” childhood without the hassles of glasses or daytime contacts. I (Dad) remember how annoying glasses were when I was a kid, especially during sports and rough play. Kids can be mean with teasing, and I didn’t want them to remember their childhood as “uncool” because of glasses – a small thing, but still important.

More importantly, I (Dad) had my share of issues with regular contact lenses that I started wearing at 14. They were uncomfortable in the wind, dried out quickly, and couldn’t be worn for long. Night lenses also allowed our boys to start wearing them earlier, as we (the parents) could handle them for them until they got the hang of it. This reduced the chance of them getting lost, especially since they’d stay home most of the time. We could also make sure they stayed clean and safe.

Swimming became worry-free – they wore prescription swim goggles but couldn’t use them on water slides or during diving lessons. Golf, another sport they played, was easier with lenses, especially in the rain. Regular lenses had their own issues with wind, dust, and allergies, which our sons both experienced while playing golf.

Did you try glasses or regular contact lenses before night lenses?

Yes, our first optometrist prescribed glasses for both boys. We wanted to see if regular daytime contact lenses might work for them from a young age. But the first optometrist wasn’t keen on giving contacts to kids under 12, and his staff agreed, saying it was best to wait. So, we did some internet research and found that some experts thought kids younger than 12 could wear contacts and that they might even be better than glasses for young kids with nearsightedness. We didn’t know about night lenses at that time. We decided to consult another local optometrist listed as open to giving contacts to kids. We took Marc, our older son, to see him, and he got soft contact lenses for a trial. The plan was to give him lenses to get used to, and once he could handle them on his own, he’d get his own permanent lenses. But this second optometrist wasn’t helpful. Marc had trouble with the lenses, and it was frustrating for all of us.

Then, our grandmother showed us a newspaper article about night lenses, which was our first introduction to them. The article mentioned that children could wear these new lenses and that recent studies suggested they might slow down vision deterioration. My twin brother and I had both experienced worsening nearsightedness, so this caught our attention.

After that, I (Dad) talked to my own optometrist. I had stopped wearing contacts and had been wearing glasses for about 18 months. During the consultation, my optometrist provided a lot of useful information. He mentioned the pros and cons of different types of lenses for children. He also explained night lenses, similar to what we read in the newspaper. That’s when I decided to explore night lenses for Marc, and it turned out to be a great choice.

In the months leading up to using night lenses, Marc’s vision got worse. He should have worn glasses all the time, but he only used them in the classroom and for things like watching movies. At home, he’d sit close to the TV screen and even wear his glasses to read music while playing the guitar. Steven, with a milder prescription, only wore his glasses in the classroom and at the movies. He also mentioned needing them at the playground and for various play activities.

Did you have to encourage Marc and Steven to wear contact lenses? If so, how did you do it?

Marc and Steven were excited to try night lenses.

Marc had tried soft contact lenses and was disappointed that he couldn’t put them in himself. During the few days of the trial, he realized how much better he could see during sports like football and tae-kwon-do. Steven was also eager because he saw how well Marc did without glasses. Initially, we managed to get Steven’s lenses in and out with some difficulty, but then he became resistant. It was frustrating for him because he wanted the benefits of lenses but was too afraid to open his eyes wide enough.

How was the process of fitting night lenses for Marc and Steven?

Marc quickly got the hang of it and could insert and remove the lenses on his own. We had to remind him to keep them clean, and sometimes they were sore because he didn’t rinse the soap off properly.

For Steven, it was more challenging since he was only five and relied on us to put in and take out the lenses. As mentioned earlier, we faced difficulties in the beginning, with Steven becoming increasingly resistant. We even tried when he was asleep a few times. It worked a couple of times, but then Steven became very sensitive to even the slightest attempt. There were many late-night battles. Our optometrist suggested taking a break for a week, warning that if Steven’s fear continued, it might be six months before we could try again.

How quickly and easily did Marc and Steven adapt to night lenses?

Marc adapted quickly and could manage the lenses on his own almost from the start. Steven, however, was more challenging, and we faced difficulties early on.

What challenges did you encounter?

As mentioned earlier, Steven’s resistance grew stronger over time. He had to rebuild trust from scratch. We followed our optometrist’s advice and took a week-long break from the lenses. We encouraged Steven to touch the white part of his eye and let others do the same. I (Mum) even let Steven touch my eye. We practiced the technique for opening his eye without blinking, which the optometrist had explained. I (Mum) also let Steven practice on me. Steven relaxed a bit and was eager to try again.

We started during the school holidays to reduce time pressure. I (Mum) assured him there was no rush, and we’d work at his pace. He practiced with the lenses, but it became clear he couldn’t put them in himself. About halfway through the first week of the holidays, we managed to get them in and keep them for about 15 minutes. Then we tried to remove them, which was tricky at first because I was also nervous. Gradually, trust developed, and Steven was happy to keep them in overnight. Within a week, he let me put them in, and he kept them in overnight, and I removed them in the morning with a suction tool. He was thrilled. Now, we’re on day 57, Steven has gained confidence, and he can remove them himself in the morning. I hold his eye for him, and he uses the suction tool. When the time is right, we’ll work towards him inserting them by himself.

What was easier than you expected or easier than glasses or regular contacts?

Marc quickly learned the proper technique for night lenses, which was a stark contrast to his experience with soft contacts. His optometrist told him not to copy his Dad’s method, which apparently was flawed. This motivated Marc to learn the correct technique and show up his Dad!

For Steven, it was initially frustrating, especially since Marc had a positive experience. However, he eventually succeeded in taking out the lenses with some assistance, and we couldn’t be happier.

Did you notice any changes in behaviour as Marc and Steven’s vision improved?

Marc became more confident in sports, especially football. His improved vision made a significant difference, and he started enjoying sports more, whereas before, he was reluctant to participate.

Steven also mentioned that he could see the ball better in football and was happy to play at his best. He has talent in golf and football, and night lenses give him a chance to compete with his peers on equal terms. Both boys could see things more clearly that they couldn’t before, like road signs, leaves on trees, birds in the sky, bus numbers, and friends in the playground.

Now that Marc and Steven have successfully adapted to night lenses, what advantages do you see them having over regular daytime lenses?

Using night lenses is now part of their bedtime and morning routine and is neither troublesome nor time-consuming. There’s no need to worry about losing lenses at school or elsewhere. When leaving for cinema, theatre, school, guitar lessons, etc., we don’t have to double-check if we have the boys’ glasses with us. They also don’t need to remove and insert lenses during the day, which can be inconvenient, especially if there’s something irritating in the eye. Plus, they don’t have to carry glasses around as backups. With standard lenses, the boys would still have to remove contacts for swimming and wear prescription goggles.

The night lenses might also reduce the progression of nearsightedness in Marc and Steven. How important was this factor in choosing night lenses over glasses or regular daytime lenses?

Reducing the degree of nearsightedness was a bonus. The other benefits of night lenses convinced us they were the best choice for our boys at this stage.

Would you still opt for night lenses as your preferred vision correction even if they didn’t have the potential to reduce nearsightedness?

Yes.

If you were a suitable candidate, would you consider night lenses for yourself?

Yes.

Would you recommend night lenses to other people or families?

Absolutely, without a doubt. Marc and Steven’s 12-year-old cousin, Elizabeth, has been wearing night lenses for several months and says they’ve improved her life. In fact, Marc himself talked to Elizabeth about his amazing new lenses and how she might not have to wear glasses anymore. At this crucial age, the boost to her self-esteem and confidence from not wearing glasses is priceless. We’ve also shared our experience with many friends and colleagues, and they’ve been amazed. No one we spoke to knew about night lenses, let alone that they could be suitable for young children and could potentially slow down nearsightedness.

Is there anything else you, Marc, or Steven would like to add about night lenses?

We couldn’t be happier with how night lenses have transformed our sons’ lives. It’s a dream come true for us. We’re incredibly grateful to our optometrist for his professionalism, expertise, and patience.