Helping Your Child Adjust to Glasses

How many times have you tried to get your child to jump in and try something new and they’re just not up for it? Change can be a good thing, but it’s not always easy to get your kid on board with it— especially when it comes to wearing glasses. When it comes to glasses selection and kids, there are two schools of thought: 

1. We have kids who want glasses but don’t need them
2. We have kids that need them but don’t want them

For group 1, about 1/3 of this group will actually need glasses, but have never had an eye exam. For group 2, kids may feel self-conscious about wearing them. The good news is they will see a lot better and feel more confident about themselves. When you see better, you feel better and perform better. That’s a fact!  

 Again, it all starts with a comprehensive kids eye exam to check everything out.  Please do not rely on your pediatrician’s cursory screening or a school nurse screening to detect visual problems. Farsighted children are often the ones who pass all the screenings but have difficulty reading and doing close work. Nearsighted kids fail the distance vision chart test, but are able to read fine and are your better students.   

How to Make your kids love their glasses

Step 1: Help them have a positive attitude about going to the eye doctor. They’re not going to the dentist or getting a shot. Talk about how fun it is to experience the technology of a modern eye exam. They just might find it really fascinating to see the insides of their eye!  

Step 2: Have a trained eye care professional help in selecting a lightweight but durable pair of frames that fit like a glove.  Children have unique facial features that need specialized eyewear.  A pair of glasses for kids are not just a miniature adult pair. 

Step 3: Make sure your child has some input when choosing. For instance, favorite color.  If your child has input in picking them out, they are more likely to wear them enthusiastically.  

Step 4: Get help with selecting lenses that are virtually unbreakable and invisible. Anti-reflective coatings on lenses will help prevent scratches and make pictures appear better.  

Step 5: When the glasses are finished, make sure to bring your child along for a custom fitting session around their nose and ears. An eye care professional will train your child how to put them on, clean them, and protect them with a case.   Today’s eyewear is different than your grandparents had. The choices were black and brown for boys and pink, blue or white for girls in a cat-eye shape. The lenses were made of glass, which was unsafe and heavy. Today, bright colors and fun shapes are available to make your child love their glasses.   

WHAT MATERIALS SHOULD THE FRAMES BE MADE OF?

 When you think about it, kids are really good at losing things and breaking things. When it comes to frames, the most unbreakable frame materials are Ultem, TR-90, nylon, rubber, titanium, and stainless steel. Stay away from cheap hard plastics and nickel-based metals. They tend to break or turn your child’s skin green like a cheap, gold necklace. Remember, the better frame quality you have, the fewer times you will need to have them adjusted or fixed. Better yet, plan on getting two pairs so you always have a backup if the glasses are lost or broken. 

When you introduce the idea of getting glasses, your child may be feeling one of two things: 

1. Excited and ready for the adventure
2. Resistant or nervous about the change

 At Brill Eye Center, most responses aren’t new to us. We see kids who enjoy going through the steps of picking out new frames and changing up their look. As well as those who struggle to embrace a “new normal.” It’s not uncommon for children to have a few insecurities about what their peers might say or think about them. This is all natural and a part of the process.  If you’re looking to take the next step to get your child’s eyes checked, schedule an exam today!  

EMBARKING ON THE ADVENTURE 

 Finding out that your child needs glasses can be a big adjustment not only for them, but for you as a parent as well. It’s something that may require time and an extra measure of patience at first.  Glasses help with better vision, and better vision is never a bad thing. Children need to hear this. 

Start with the basics and remind your child of why they need glasses. Young kids are more than capable of understanding the benefits that come with wearing glasses.  Nobody knows your child like you do. And, if they’re like most kids, you know just how impressionable they can be. Help them see this as an adventure you get to embark on together.   

KNOW THEIR PERSPECTIVE 

 Between grade school kids and high schoolers, there’s a significant shift that happens with their perspective on wearing glasses. Younger kids may be combating the idea of being seen as “different” among their friends and classmates, while older kids may embrace the change willingly or even see it as an opportunity to compliment their style.  

1 in 4 kids have vision problems. That means glasses are not at all uncommon. If you run into issues of your child being afraid of standing out at school — you can almost guarantee they won’t be alone.  Before introducing this change into their  “everyday”, consider asking them a few questions:      

• How do they feel about wearing glasses? 
• What are they most afraid of? 
• What are they most excited about? 

 This will open up some healthy dialogue and give you a better understanding of where your chid is at with the transition. From there, you can determine how to best encourage and support them in a way that moves them towards embracing the change.   

GLASSES THAT FIT 

 There’s nothing more frustrating than frames that slip and fall down your child’s face. This alone can set things off course for getting them acclimated and excited about wearing their new glasses.  At Brill Eye Center, we know the importance of providing kids with glasses that fit. While we have a variety of great frames kids can choose from, Tomato Glasses are a fan favorite among parents.   

Tomato Eyewear offers the best-in-class eyewear specifically designed for kids. These glasses are colorful, stylish, durable, and most importantly — comfortable. For every unique feature, each child has, Tomato Eyewear is 100% customizable to ensure a best fit.  With Tomato Glasses you can expect them to be:  

• Firm and flexible 
• Made for comfort 
• Adjustable for fit 

 Other fine kids eyewear brands we recommend are: Zoobug, Life Italia, Vinyl Factory, Dutz, Menizzi, Crocs, and Ray Ban.  

TIPS FOR HELPING YOUR CHILD ADJUST TO WEARING GLASSES 

 Once the glasses are brought home, it’s time to get your child adjusted to wearing them. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:  

1. Set a reminder: Your child may not always remember to put on their glasses, and chances are, you will forget about them too. Have a reminder in place that helps them remember to check that their glasses are on before walking out the door. Routines take time, so patience is key.   

1. Set a positive tone: Encourage your child with some positive comments about their glasses. Compliment them on how they look and why they should feel confident wearing them. This could help them brush off any potentially unhelpful comments they might get from their peers. 

1. Follow-up appointments: Our team at Brill Eye Center cares about how your child is doing, and we’re always here to help. We encourage follow-up appointments as a way to stay informed and make sure your child’s glasses are comfortable and in the best working order. 

KANSAS CITY’S EYE CENTER 

 When you choose Brill Eye Center, you choose a team that is committed to giving you excellent eye care at a reasonable price. We’ll work together to provide solutions to meet the needs of your child and get them back on track to living life with better vision. And, you’ll always be treated like family.  Contact us to learn more and be a part of the Brill Eye Difference today!