Buying Eyeglasses for Young Children

So, now you've been through the vision screening process with your toddler or preschool aged child. You've gotten a referral from the pediatrician, and visited with a pediatric ophthalmologist. And now the decision has been made that your child would benefit from eyeglasses. Where do you go from here?

It is crucial to identify and correct childhood vision problems as soon as possible. By the age of nine or ten, a person is said to have assumed visual maturity, and vision problems are much less likely to ever be alleviated or corrected after that age. For those children who suffer from the common forms of vision abnormality: nearsightedness or myopia; farsightedness or hyperopia; and astigmatism which causes image distortion, corrective lenses are usually prescribed.

The good news is, that early screening for more children has resulted in more children getting fitted with corrective lenses, and that means a wider selection of frames than were available twenty years ago. The bad news is, for toddlers and small preschoolers, the selection is still limited. And no amount of "cool" is going to persuade a toddler to keep eyeglasses on his face if he decides they are annoying, either. A wider range of eyeglass frames hasn't changed the basic nature of young children, after all.

But here are some proven buying and fitting tips from All About Vision to help you in your journey to a better-seeing child.

First, the lenses.

Most lenses, especially those designed for children, are made from polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is an impact resistance material that is also used in safety goggles. These lighter weight options to glass or plastic lenses also prevent the "coke bottle", making the glasses look better and feel more comfortable.

Scratch resistant coatings are an upgrade that you might want to consider. If your child is very young and prone to leaving his or her glasses lense side down on the floor or table, this coating is probably a good option. And if the prescription is for either near or farsightedness, the doctor may have recommended only wearing the glasses part of the time, like while reading or only when watching television or riding in the car. If that's the case, the scratch resistant coating is a good idea because with more on and off wear, the greater the risk of scratched lenses.

Material of the frame is another important consideration. Plastic used to be considered superior to metal frames simply because they are lighter weight, cost less, and were more flexible and durable. But with the advent of titanium and other metals that incorporate the best features of plastic with the look of metal, the main consideration is fashion and preference. Of course, if your child is sensitive to certain alloys and metals, you will want to ask about alternatives as well.

Silicone nose pads are a must on children's frames. They are soft, flexible and have a non slip surface that helps the child keep the glasses in the correct position on his or her face. Young children do not yet have a bridge to their nose to hold the glasses frames in place. And many children will just look over the tops of the lenses instead of pushing the glasses up, so it's important to have proper fit across the nose. A good optician will work to ensure a good fit for your child.

Wraparound cable temples are available for the toddler child who may otherwise have a more difficult time keeping his glasses in the proper place. Another option is a sports-type strap to help keep the frames from slipping or falling off the child's face. If your child is a part time lense wearer though, these aren't a good choice because they are more difficult to put on and off.

Spring hinges for eyeglasses are another great innovation for children, or anyone who wears eyeglasses around young children. These flexible hinges allow the temples to flex away from the frame a bit without causing undue damage. This is invaluable to the child (most of them) who yanks the glasses off with one hand, or for the adult who gets their glasses yanked off by a baby or toddler on a regular basis. They may cost a bit more on some frames, but the fewer broken frames as a result is worth it.

Warranties are another way to protect your investment. If the cost of the warranty is less than a replacement pair of eyeglasses, most experts say to go for it. Even one scratched lense (and children tend to scratch their lenses frequently) must be replaced because of the danger of compromising your child's vision during these formative vision years.

Having a replacement pair of glasses around is a great idea as well if your child is a full time eyeglass wearer or is very dependent on the corrective lenses. This back up pair could be a pair of prescription sunglasses or sports goggles if that's appropriate, but having a back up is good planning, because breakages can and will occur, especially with active children.

Getting your children to actually wear these new things on their faces might be another story. To an older child, having sharper vision, and therefore more abilities might be the final selling point. To a toddler or young child who doesn't see immediate benefit, this might require some time and consistency. Set up a sticker/reward chart; have the child "try" the glasses for 15 or 20 minutes at a time and then take a break; ask him to wear his glasses before reading a book, playing a game, or doing a puzzle together; or you can even buy mini eyeglasses at a hobby or craft store for her favorite doll or stuffed animal so they can "match."