10 hacks for choosing eyewear for your child

If you’re a parent looking for the best eyeglasses for your child, you’re undoubtedly aware of how perplexing it can be to walk into an optical store. There is a never-ending supply of children’s spectacles. The issue is determining which glasses your youngster will wear – and if they will last longer than the ride home.

Here are some shopping ideas to assist you in selecting glasses that your child will enjoy wearing and that are both attractive and durable.

1. What will the thickness of the lenses be?

The initial consideration when selecting glasses is always the prescription. Consult your eye doctor or optician about your child’s lenses before you begin shopping for frames. If the prescription requires strong lenses that are likely to be thick, avoid choosing large frames that will cause the lenses to become thicker. Additionally, smaller lenses have less aberrations around the lens’s border than larger lenses of the same material and prescription, resulting in a decreased chance of blurred or distorted peripheral vision.

2. Opt for a contemporary, appealing style

The majority of children will experience self-consciousness when wearing spectacles for the first time. Therefore, choose frames with a contemporary, appealing style. Additionally, features such as photochromic lenses that darken automatically in direct sunlight may encourage your child to wear glasses.

3. Is it made of plastic or metal?

Eyeglasses frames are typically composed of plastic or metal, and many children’s eyeglasses are meant to resemble unisex eyeglass frames for adults. Children frequently go toward these styles because they appear more mature. It is not uncommon for children to select glasses that resemble those worn by their elder siblings or parents.

Historically, plastic frames were preferred for children because they were thought to be more robust, less likely to bend or break, lighter in weight, and less expensive. However, manufacturers are now producing metal frames with similar features as well.

If your youngster has demonstrated intolerance to particular substances, opt for hypoallergenic glasses. For instance, some people are allergic to nickel-plated metal frames.

4. Proper fit of the bridge

One of the most challenging aspects of selecting appropriate frames for young children is that their noses are still growing, and thus lack the bridge necessary to keep plastic frames from sliding down. The good news is that metal frames are frequently constructed with adjustable nose pads to ensure that they suit everyone’s bridge, while most makers of plastic frames have started to design bridges to fit narrow noses.

Each frame must be inspected separately to ensure that it fits your child’s nose bridge properly. If there are any gaps between the frame’s bridge and the bridge of your child’s nose, the weight of the lenses will cause the glasses to slide, regardless of how well the frame appears to fit.

The glasses must remain in place; otherwise, children will stare over the top of the lenses. Generally, an optician is the best judge of whether or not a frame fits properly.

5. Choosing the appropriate temple style

Eyeglass temples (the long stems of the frames that connect the front of the eyewear to the back of your head) that wrap entirely around the back of the ear are a great option as they help prevent spectacles from sliding down or falling completely off your child’s face.

6. Spring-loaded hinges

Temples with spring hinges are an excellent feature to look out for. These allow the temples to bend outward and away from the frames without damaging them.

Children are not always cautious while putting on and taking off their glasses, and spring hinges can assist avoid numerous adjustments and costly repairs. Additionally, they come in handy if the youngster falls asleep with the glasses on.

7. Material for the lens

Once you and your child have decided on frames you both like, the lenses become the next consideration.

Polycarbonate or Trivex lenses should be used for children’s lenses. These materials are much more impact-resistant than traditional lens materials for extra safety.

Additionally, polycarbonate and trivex lenses are substantially lighter than standard plastic lenses, which improves the glasses’ comfort, especially for those with strong prescriptions. They include built-in protection against potentially harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and the manufacturer or fabrication lab coats the lenses with a scratch-resistant coating.

Choose plastic lenses over glass lenses for children’s eyeglasses. While glass lenses are extremely scratch resistant, they are incredibly hefty and can break rather quickly (compared with polycarbonate or Trivex lenses).

8. Sports spectacles

Because polycarbonate is such a safe lens material, you may be tempted to let your child participate in sports while still wearing his usual glasses. The disadvantage is that, while polycarbonate lenses are utilised in sports eyewear, standard eyeglass frames do not provide adequate protection against large items such as balls and flying elbows. Therefore, if your child participates in sports, the best protection against eye harm is provided by a good sports goggle with polycarbonate lenses.

Sports goggles must be correctly fitted; thus, visit an eye care specialist before purchase. The lens apertures of sports goggles should be large enough that when they are pressed on the face, the impact points should be above and below the eyes to avoid eye damage.

9. Guarantees

Numerous optical outlets provide a warranty plan that covers the cost of replacing eyewear in the event of damage to the frames or lenses. Consider purchasing the warranty, especially if your child is a toddler or is purchasing their first pair of glasses. Calculate the cost of lens replacement with and without the warranty plan. In general, if the warranty costs less than or equal to replacing a single lens, it is worth the money.

10. Invest in a backup pair

Because children can be rough on their glasses, it’s a good idea to acquire a second pair for them – even more so if your child has a strong prescription and cannot function without them. Inquire with your optician about special discounts on second pairs – they frequently apply when the backup pair is ordered concurrently with the primary pair.