Kids' esteem higher wearing contact lenses

Children don’t have to be called four-eyes to feel self-conscious about their glasses.

A study published in the March Optometry & Vision Science examined the effects on glasses versus contact lenses on children ages 8 to 11. A randomized trial of 484 kids with nearsightedness assigned half to wear glasses, and half to wear contact lenses.

They children were monitored for three years using the Self-Perception Profile for Children scale. The measure found that the primary category, Change in Global Self-Worth, was the same in both groups. But in the five subsections, differences were noted.

Contact wearers recorded a higher Physical Appearance score than glasses wearers, as well as Athletic Competence and Social Acceptance, to lesser extents. Scholastic Competence was down in the glasses group, especially among those unhappy with wearing glasses.

The study was funded by Johnson and Johnson, via two of its vision care divisions.