4 Considerations to Make as You Choose Eyeglasses for Your Child
Posted on: 25 May 2018
Your child's vision is important for many reasons. While you want your child to see and make memories, good vision is an essential part of learning. Therefore, your child will be missing out on many things that can affect their physical and emotional health and wellness in addition to their education. While shocking to learn, recent studies have shown an estimated 25 percent of children in school have an undiagnosed problem affecting their vision. If you are a parent who has recently learned their child has a vision impairment, help is available. Prescription eyeglasses can correct your child's vision, improving their ability to see, emotional wellness, and quality of education.
Here are a few tips to help you select the right glasses for your child.
Prescription Lens
The type of lens your child needs will affect what type of glasses they wear. For example, if your child needs a stronger prescription, the lens will most likely need to be thicker. This thickness affects what type of frames your child can wear.
The material used to construct the lens also plays a role. Glass, plastic or polycarbonate are available materials. Most parents prefer polycarbonate because they are lighter in weight and more durable.
Frame Material
The material of the frames is also important because it can affect your child's comfort level while wearing them. Your child will most likely want something lightweight, which does not make a big impact on their face. In this case, plastic frames are ideal. Today, manufacturers create plastic frames that are not only lightweight, but also durable, reducing the risk of the eyeglasses bending or breaking.
Durable metal frames are also options to consider. However, they are heavier than plastic, so your child may not feel as comfortable wearing them. Also, if your child tends to play outdoors a lot, the metal frames may rust if they are left outdoors.
Frame Style
Even young children want to look good, so finding a frame that is not only durable and comfortable, but also stylish is important. Allow your child to try on a few different pairs to determine what they think looks best. Most optometrists offer a small selection to try on, but each frame type may be available in a different color. Your child may love the way a certain frame feels and looks, but would prefer a unique color, so ask for assistance.
Many parents allow their child to research online, searching for their favorite singers, actors, and celebrities to see what styles they wear. Seeing celebrities wearing specific glasses will help your child find something stylish, but it will also reduce any self-confidence or embarrassment they may feel about wearing eyeglasses.
Frame Fit
Ensuring the frames are lightweight and comfortable is important, but you also need to make sure they are custom-fitted to your child's face. This will require more than just trying on the glasses.
Professionals will need to measure your child's face before ordering their new frames. Once the frames arrive, they will install the lens and allow your child to try them on again. Then, adjustments will be made to make sure they fit perfectly.
The frames should also remain in place when your child faces the ground. The nose pads should keep the glasses on the bridge of the nose at all times. Also, make sure the frames do not sit higher than your child's eyebrows. The bottom of the frames should not rest on their cheeks, either.
As a parent, you should give your child the gift of vision. With these tips, you will be able to choose their eyeglasses with ease. For more information about your options, contact services such as Master Eye Associates.
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