Tips For Buying Eyeglasses For Kids

If you are a parent in search of the right pair of eyeglasses for your child, you probably know that walking into an optical store can be confusing.
There is no shortage of children’s eyeglass frames. The problem is figuring out which glasses your child will be willing to wear. Will they put the eyeglasses on their face throughout the school?

Here are a few selection tips to help you choose glasses your child will love and that will be stylish and durable.

1) Are The Prescriptive Lenses Going To Be Thick?

The prescriptive lenses is always the primary consideration when choosing eyeglasses. Before you start looking for frames, consult your Singapore Optometrist or Optician about your child’s lenses. If the prescriptions addresses for high degree lenses that are likely to be thick, avoid large frames that will increase the thickness of these lenses. Also, smaller lenses tend to have lesser distortion near the edge of the lenses compared to large lenses of the same material and prescription. Thus, it is recommended to go for smaller frames if prescription is high.

2) Modern And Attractive Spectacle Frames

Majority of the children are self-conscious when they wear eyeglasses for the first time. Choosing a frame that have a modern, attractive style encourages them to wear the eyeglasses regularly. Also, features like transitions lenses that darken automatically in the sunlight outdoors may help inspire your child to want to wear glasses.

3) Plastic Or Metal Frames?

Most children’s frames are made of either plastic or metal. Many styles intentionally mimic unisex eyeglass frames designed for adults. Children often are attracted to these styles because they look more grown-up, teacher-doctor-lawyer look. It is not unusual for kids to choose glasses that look like those worn by their older siblings or their parents.

In the past, plastic frames were considered a better choice for children because they were more durable, less likely to be bent or broken, lighter in weight and less expensive. But now, the metal frames incorporate these features as well. Metal composition varies, so ask your Optometrist or Optician which one is best for your child.

Choose frames made of hypoallergenic materials if your child has shown sensitivity to certain substances. For instance, some children are allergic to metal frames that contain nickel.

4) Finding The Proper Bridge Fit

One of the common challenges about choosing suitable frames for young children is that their noses are not fully developed. They do not have a nose bridge to prevent plastic frames from sliding down. Metal frames, however, usually are made with adjustable nose pads, so they fit everyone’s bridge. As time passes, modern plastic frames are designed to make their bridges sit well on small noses.

Each frame must be evaluated individually to make sure it fits the bridge. If any gaps exist between the bridge of the frame and the bridge of the nose, the weight of the lenses will cause the eyeglasses to slide down, no matter how well the frame seems to fit before the lenses are made.

It is important that the eyeglasses stay in place, otherwise kids tend to look over the top of the lenses. An Optometrist or Optician has the best judge of whether a frame fits properly.

5) The Right Temple

The correct length of temple that wrap all the way around the back of the ear help to keep eyeglasses from sliding down or dropping off a child’s face completely. If you have not chosen the correct temple from the start, fret not. There are add-ons straps around the head or ear hooks which are helpful to keep glasses in place on these children.

6) Spring Hinges

A nice feature to look out for is temples with spring hinges. These allow the temples to flex outward, away from the frames, without causing any damages.
Children are not always careful when they put on and take off glasses, these spring hinges can help prevent the need for frequent adjustments and costly repairs. They also come in handy if the child falls asleep with the glasses on or just has a rough day at play. Spring hinges are strongly recommended for toddlers, who sometimes get carried away playing with their new glasses.

7) Lens Material

Once you and your child agree on frames that you both like, the next consideration is the spectacles lenses.

Commonly used lens material for children is polycarbonate. These materials are significantly more impact resistant than other lens materials for added safety.

Polycarbonate lenses also are significantly lighter than regular plastic lenses, which makes the glasses more comfortable, especially for strong prescriptions.

The price for polycarbonate lenses generally is comparable to the cost for regular plastic lenses with UV and scratch-resistance coatings. And with polycarbonate, kids get that extra margin of safety to protect their eyes.
Avoid choosing glass lenses for children’s eyeglasses. Although they are very scratch resistant, glass lenses are very heavy and can break or chip relatively easily.  

8) Sports Glasses

Polycarbonate is considered a safe lens material that you may be tempted to let your child play sports in his regular eyeglasses. If your child is involved in sports, a proper sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses will provide the best protection against eye injury. To provide optimum protection, sports goggles must be fitted properly. Consult with an Optometrist or Optician before purchasing them. The lens openings of sports goggles should be large enough so if the goggles are pushed towards the face, the impact points are above and below the eyes to avoid eye injuries.

9) Warranties

Consider opting for the warranty plan that will replace eyewear at no charge or for a small fee in case of damage to the frames or lenses. This is especially essential if your child is a toddler or is wearing eyeglasses for the first time. As most children tend to be mischievous during playtime, frames are usually misaligned. Do not hesitate to go back to your Optometrist or Optician for any frame maintenance or adjustment. In children’s eyeglasses, the lenses usually become badly scratched from normal wear. In addition to causing glare and blurred vision, surface scratches can compromise the impact resistance of eyeglass lenses, putting your child’s eyes at risk.

10) Purchase A Back Up Pair

Children can be tough on their eyeglasses, it is a good idea to purchase a second, or backup pair of eyeglasses for them. This is necessary if your child has a strong prescription and cannot function without his or her eyeglasses.

Ask your Optometrist or Optician if there is special discounts apply for second pairs. In some cases, most parents purchase identical frames with lenses for convenience.
If your child’s prescription has not changed significantly, keep his or her previous eyeglasses in a safe place for use as a spare.

If your child wears eyeglasses full-time, lenses such as transitions or prescription sunglasses should also be considered to decrease glare, increase visual comfort and provide optimal protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Before purchasing any eyeglasses for kids, schedule an eye examination for your child with an Optometrist at EMM3 Visioncare. 
Children’s eyes can change rapidly, so make sure your child has an up-to-date eyeglass prescription for the best possible vision and comfort before investing in new eyeglasses.