Guide to Buying Kid’s Glasses – Top Tips

The 15^th of May is International Family Day and this year’s theme is “Families and New Technologies”. But this doesn’t mean we should all spend hours on our smartphones or tablets on this day. Rather, the idea is to consider the effect that modern technology, including home-schooling, home office and the like, has on us, as children and adults. So perhaps we should look deep into each other’s eyes instead of deep into the phone screen on this day…

And while we’re on the subject of looking deep into each other’s eyes: when was the last time you went to the opticians? It’s not only adults who should have regular eye tests – it’s even more important for children, especially very young ones. Children have to learn to see properly in the first few years of their lives. What children’s eyes haven’t been able to learn until about the age of six, they unfortunately can’t catch up on later. And good vision is important for a child’s entire development.

Play Time Instead of Screen Time

Not least because of increasing digitalisation and the many hours spent reading during school hours, the proportion of children with short-sightedness is growing. Spending time outdoors can counteract this effect. So if your toddler has grabbed your mobile phone again, it’s best to take it away after five minutes and go outside together! Parents’ eyes also need a rest every now and then.

Which glasses are suited to children?

My child needs glasses, what do I do now? No need to worry: both short-sightedness and long-sightedness in children can be compensated for with suitable glasses. Even with astigmatism or strabismus, visual acuity and spatial perception can be improved with corrective glasses. However, since the human eye continues to grow until about the age of 28, regular check-ups with an ophthalmologist are recommended, since eyesight can change quickly. Once you have an up-to-date prescription for your child, the only questions that remain are: where can I get trendy children’s glasses? And how much do glasses for children cost?

What type of frame should I look for in children’s glasses?

Of course, children’s glasses also have to look good on the faces of our little darlings. In addition to the appearance, it is very important that the frame is made of a high-quality, lightweight material and that it fits perfectly so that the glasses are not “accidentally forgotten” on the bus or buried in the sandbox due to a lack of comfort. The bridge of a child’s nose is still very soft and offers less support than that of an adult. Silicone nose pads can prevent slipping and pressure points. Flexible temples, possibly with spring hinges, ensure that the new glasses stay perfectly in place and can withstand the odd growth spurt without getting too tight. If the little rascals like to get particularly wild at play time, whether it’s climbing, swinging or playing football, anti-slip temple holders, sports straps or special children’s glasses with sports temples are ideal.

Which lenses are suitable for children’s glasses?

In addition to a flexible, lightweight and robust frame, children’s glasses also need suitable lenses. Lenses made of plastic or polycarbonate are the first choice here; silicate (glass) lenses risk shattering during stunts in games or collisions when riding a bike and are therefore an unnecessary risk of injury.

You should also look out for UV-protection when it comes to children’s sunglasses, as children’s eyes react very sensitively to UV rays. Sunglasses for children should not only bear the CE mark, but also offer full UV 400 protection. UV protection is also useful to have in prescription glasses – you can get a UV filter coating without adding any dark tint on the lenses.

How can I convince my child to wear glasses?

Depending on the age of the child, buying children’s glasses can be stressful for everyone involved. Even small children often have a very precise idea of what they like – and above all, what they don’t like. Children don’t often respond well to rational argumentation. But the other way round also applies: if your little one likes something, they are much more likely to wear it. What is needed here is patience, a positive attitude and a good pre-selection by the parents or the optician. You can then ask your child to choose their glasses from this pre-selection. In our online shop you will find a large selection of suitable children’s glasses for girls and boys in almost every style imaginable, whether cool, colourful, simple or extravagant. By the way: many of the frames can be tried on online in our Virtual Mirror – great fun, not least for our little digital natives.