What you should know if your child needs glasses

Many kids and teens are nearsighted, farsighted, or have an astigmatism. These problems are usually corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses. Kids and teens who wear glasses or contacts should have yearly checkups with an eye doctor to watch for any vision changes.

If your child needs glasses, keep these tips in mind:

• Let kids pick their own frames.
• Plastic or flexible frames are best for children younger than 2.
• An elastic strap can help keep glasses in place for active kids.
• Metal frames should have spring hinges and are OK for older kids.
• Polycarbonate lenses are best for all kids because they are tough, shatterproof, and light weight.
• Read all about it. If your child is resisting wearing glasses, pick up a book like Luna and the Big Blur, by Shirley Day, about a little girl who ditches her glasses and then does silly things like putting ketchup on her ice cream.

If your child has glasses already, they may need adjusted. Kids grow fast and frames can become too small, tight, or overall don’t fit well. This is another important reason to have a yearly check-up with your child’s eye doctor.

contacts

Contact lenses may be a good choice for some older kids and teens, such as those who play sports or feel uncomfortable wearing glasses. To wear contacts safely, they should know:

• when to wear them and not wear them
• how to put them in and take them out properly
• how to clean them as instructed by the doctor

If you’re not sure if your child is ready for contacts, check out our article “is your child ready for contact lenses?”

expertise matters

When it comes to eye care, there is a wide range of options. Choose a pediatric expert. Unlike other eye care providers, pediatric eye providers complete extra training to treat and manage pediatric vision. This specialized training uniquely qualifies them to treat children from infancy to adulthood.

did you know?

Dayton Children’s pediatric optical shop offers over 300 frames and can even make glasses in under an hour! You can shop without an appointment Monday – Friday 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. For more information, click here.