According to the Children’s Vision Network, 80 percent of what kids learn is processed through their eyes. If your child has a vision deficiency, one of the most important things you can do for them is to choose the correct pair of eyeglasses. The right pair of glasses can help save your child’s vision and a bundle of cash. Here are five tips to help you choose the best eyeglasses for your child.
Go With Memory Metal
Kids are hard on just about everything they touch and eyeglasses are no exception. That makes choosing the material your child’s eyeglass frames are made from is one of the most important considerations. Plastic frames can snap and break easily and standard metal frames are easily bent. Frames made of memory metal are a must for kids. Memory metal is flexible and durable and will prevent you from ending up with a broken pair of glasses. The most common brand of memory metal is Flexon, which is a titanium based alloy. Flexon frames come back to their original shape even after extreme twisting, crushing or bending. An added bonus is that they are also lightweight, corrosion resistant and hypoallergenic. Far from stodgy granny glasses, these durable frames offer kids sporty styles and kid-friendly color options.
Let Kids Choose Their Frames
There’s no bigger waste of money than buying a pair of glasses your child refuses to wear. Inspire your child to wear their glasses and boost their confidence by letting them have a say in picking out their specs. If you make it a battle to pick them out, it will also be a constant battle to get them to wear their glasses. The main objective is to get kids to wear their glasses, who cares if they are purple, striped or neon green. If your child likes them, and more importantly eagerly wears them, then that’s what’s important. Of course, parents should have a say as well. Provide your child with a number of frames to choose from that are acceptable to you. Be prepared though; choosing the perfect pair of glasses, especially the first time, may take some time for your child. Take frequent breaks and support them through the process.
Choose the Right Temple Style
The temple is the earpiece of eyeglasses. Most kids are not ready for adult style temples for their glasses. Consider cable temples which are temples that wrap all the way around the back of the ear. These help keep glasses from sliding down the child’s nose or falling off and getting broken. Cable temples are available on most metal frames for kids. They are a bit more awkward to take on and off, but getting them covered in silicone will make them easier for kids to manage.
Get Springy
Spring hinges are a must for active kids, especially if they play sports. Spring hinges allow eyeglass temples to flex outward away from the frames without breaking. They do cost a bit more, but they can eliminate the need for expensive repairs or frequent trips to get glasses adjusted. They are also a lifesaver if your child has a tendency to fall asleep in their glasses or rough house. Spring hinges are also a must for toddlers, who have a tendency to play with their glasses.
Keep the Weight Down
By the time I was 12 I had upgraded to a pair glasses with heavy and unsightly coke bottle lenses. Luckily, today’s spectacle wearing kids no longer have to be burdened by too heavy peepers. There are a few things to keep in when minimizing the weight of eyeglasses for kids. First, if your child has a high prescription, keep the frames as small as possible. This will help to reduce the overall thickness and weight of the final lenses. Make sure your child has lenses that are made of lightweight polycarbonate or a material called Trivex, never plastic or glass. Polycarbonate lenses are also more impact resistant, have built in protection against harmful UV rays and are coated with a scratch resistant coating.
Source
Parenting