Vision is an important part of your child’s ability to learn. There are a few possible indicators that your child needs glasses. 

Signs your child might need glasses

1.   Squinting.
2.   Frequent headaches.
3.   Difficulty at school. This could begin with a note from the teacher discussing difficulties in school or
4.   Rubbing eyes.

 In some cases, there may be no signs at all. Take your child to a doctor of optometry for a routine eye exam.

How to help your child choose glasses

Style

• When choosing their first pair of glasses, start by making sure that your child likes the style and colour of the frames that are being selected. A child will be more likely to wear their glasses every day when they are happy with how they look.

Frame

• For a child to keep their new glasses on, the frames do need to be a comfortable fit. The frame sizing and selection needs careful attention by an experienced fitter.
• Children often have small, flat bridges of their nose. Since most of the weight of the frame is carried at that point, certain types of frames, often with adjustable nose pads, will be recommended.
• Children’s skin can be sensitive. Frames with large areas of contact should be avoided, particularly if they have metal sensitivities.
• Your child will need a frame of good quality and one that is backed by a manufacturer’s warranty. There is a high chance that the frame will become bent, crooked or broken.

Lenses

The first priority of lens selection is safety. Features you want to look out for include:

• Impact resistant – materials such as polycarbonate and Trivex are an excellent option for this
• UV Protection
• Thin and light
• Scratch resistant coating
• Anti-reflection coating

Receiving your child’s glasses

There’s some important things to do when you first receive your child’s glasses:

1. Make sure they fit well. Things to look out for are that:

• • The frame should be level and properly positioned.
  • They should not slip out of position with head movements and
  • There should not be noticeable red marks on the nose or behind the ears after a few hours of wear.

2. Talk to your child about how to wear them. It’s also important to talk about good care habits such as showing them how to use both hands to take them off and how to set them down properly, lens-side up.
3. Check the cleaning instructions. Many coatings have specific cleaning instructions or products that you should receive from the fitter.

Getting used to glasses

It can take a while for your child to get used to a new pair of glasses. At first, your child may resist wearing the glasses as they may feel that their vision is not clear or things look a little funny.

With continued wear of the glasses, as directed by your doctor of optometry, these symptoms should resolve. However, talk to you doctor of optometry if any problems last beyond two weeks.

 To help your child get used to their new glasses, you can:

•         Let your child personalize their eyeglass case.
•         Make wearing their glasses a part of their daily routine.
•         Make your child’s teacher aware of the wearing schedule of the glasses.

 It’s also important to take your child for an eye check every year. Need to find someone local? Let us help you.