Recommendations for Eyeglasses

Drive with your windows closed! LOL! My kids have worn glasses since before they were a year old, so I know just what you mean. Watch out for them sailing out the window. :)

The previous poster is right, though, the kids will wear them more than you think because they can really see better. In our house, when they would take them off, I would just very calmly put them back on. If my daughter protested, I would leave them off for a few minutes and then go over and calmly put them on again. We kept doing this (all very matter-of-fact) until she kept them on all the time. Now they both ask for them as soon as they wake up in the morning and are happier wearing them than not.

I definitely recommend the flexible frames. (Flexon in one brand, but I know there are others). Here's why . . . the flexible frames usually have a better warranty-- replacements for two years instead of just one. Check with your optician. They "give" a little if the kids fall on their face. It does bend them out of shape and you might have to have them adjusted a a little more often, but they actually do bend back as opposed to breaking (very important if your warranty doesn't replace the frames). My husband has gotten really good at adjusting them, so we do it at home. I find that the flexibility is worth the extra cost. The girls have had their current flexible glasses for over a year and we were able to reuse the frames and just replace the lenses (and they are still under warranty). Last time, we got them regular plastic frames and they were broken three times and the warranty only covered one replacement so we were holding them together with tape, screws, you name it, just to get through the rest of the year when she would need a new pair. I think it's because kids tend to overbend the glasses the wrong way when they are putting them on. If the frames don't flex, then the screws tend to get stripped and break. So the flexons cost more up front, but in the long run cost less, since the frames last longer.

Getting glasses for the little ones can be intimidating at first, but it soon becomes part of the regular routine and no big deal at all.

Good luck and great job getting vision care for your child at such a young age. It really makes a big difference.

Where do you live? There is a wonderful Pediatric Opthamologist in Catonsville and has someone there that specifically works with children and glasses. Her name is Dr. Joann Waeltermann and the eyeglass person is Meredith Bonse. Their phone # is ###-###-####. my youngest has Exotropia ( lazy eye) and had to be patched up until her surgery at 2+ years. This doctor was wonderful with her.

My daughter also got glasses around that age. She was very good about wearing them, in general, because I think she can see better. But we had some initial problems you could be mindful of - she traded glasses with anothoer boy in her class at daycare and she would bury them in the sandbox (sand and glasses not a good mix, lots of scratches). Make sure you know what your insurance covers. In our case, we got one free replacement per year for kids lenses if scratched. After that first pair, she kept them for a year until it was time for a new perscription. It was really just the first month or so where she was sort of rough with them.

We got a toddler size with bendable frames. I did this because I thought there would be less chance of them breaking if stepped on or played with. And I was worried about her falling on her face. In hindsight, however, I think it might have been better to get regular hard frames. The bendable ones don't keep their shape, and she walked around for many weeks with crooked glasses until we got to the optician to straighten them. Now at four, she has regular frames.

In terms of managment - I never wanted her to feel forced to wear them, but of course, I did want her to wear them. So I tried to not make it a battleground issue. I told her you "have to" wear them all the time. But in reality, I let her take them off as she wanted. The only rule was that she had to give them to an adult. At first, she liked to hide them (see above: sandbox). I also had to remind her frequently to put them back on after naps, waking up, bath, etc. As I said, she was always good about wearing them and not resistent to the idea - it just needed to become a habit.

From the beginning, I made it clear these were her responsibility. I taught her how to put them on without touching the lenses, I taught her how to clean them, I taught her how to fold them and put them on her nightstand each night. On the rare locations they were lost, I made a very big deal out of her finding them (no playing, etc., until found). If you have glasses, you will know what she needs to do. If not, make sure the optician tells you about caring for glasses.

I also recommend getting clip-on sunglasses for her. It makes them more fun, and is good eye protection because she won't be able to use play ones. This is one thing that my daughter coudn't do herself however until just recently - she didn't have the dexterity.

I think it is great you are beign proactive with her eye care - lots of parents don't even think about the eye doctor until their kids are in school. FYI, we have been very happy with The Eye Center who have a pediatric opthehamologsit. Good luck.

I would recommend going to Eyeballs in Damascus. Lyn Verna is the owner and has a range of kid friendly glasses. I take my special needs son to her and love her.

J. Z.
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