7 Things to Know when Buying Glasses for Your Kids

What to do when you find out your kid needs glassesMy kid was 7 when he got his first pair of glasses. After months of inching closer and closer to the TV, I finally realized he had a problem with those gorgeous brown eyes of his.

It's a weird thing when you learn your kid needs glasses. As a grossly nearsighted mama, I was sorely disappointed to learn my boy would be joining me on the bespectacled dark side.

Nearly three years, two stronger prescriptions, and one broken pair of glasses later, I'm here to offer sage advice for parents of kids who need glasses.





Be realistic1. Be realistic
Kids aren't well practiced in the art of caring for fragile items. Glasses can get lost, broken, scratched, or warped so keep these inevitable conditions in mind when purchasing eyewear for your kids. For unbelievably affordable replacement eyewear, my family trusts Zenni Optical for all of our eyewear needs.






Related: 7 things you should NEVER say to your child





Select eyewear based on fit and function2. Select eyewear based on fit and function
There's a lot to consider when purchasing children's eyewear. With choices on everything from frame and lens materials, to specialty options, you'll want to purchase glasses best suited for your child's needs and activity level. Consult All About Vision's 10 Tips for Buying Kids' Eyewear for valuable information.








Remain sensitive to your child's transition3. Remain sensitive to your child's transition
Suddenly showing up at school in glasses is a big adjustment for any kid. Allowing your child to participate in the frame selection may help ease her anxiety. Talk openly with your child about her fears and concerns and remain patient throughout her transition.









Related: 20 simple ways to show your kids love






Practice eyewear removal4. Practice eyewear removal
My son wears glasses for distance vision which means he's putting on and taking off his glasses several times throughout the day. His nasty habit of peeling off his glasses with one hand caused irreparable damage to his metal frames. Remind your child that glasses should always be removed straight off the face with two hands.








Keep a spare pair5. Keep a spare pair
If your child is dependent on glasses, keep a less expensive spare pair in the event of lost or damaged glasses. Eyewear can take a week or longer to replace and that's a long time to wait for clear vision.









Related: 25 cringe-worthy photos of stuff kids have ruined





Discuss your child's vision with her teacher6. Discuss your child's vision with her teacher
Nearsighted children often need to be reminded to wear their glasses in the classroom. Your child's teacher can help remind her, but only if she knows to do so.











ID your glasses7. ID your glasses
My son's glasses have been successfully recovered on two occasions because his name and phone number were clearly printed on the inside of his case.












- By Lori Garcia
Follow Lori on Babble

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