Focus on Fundamentals

Navigating the world of children’s eyewear involves more than just selecting frames that are cute. It’s a journey that encompasses the delicate balance of fit, function, flexibility, and fun. Ensuring kids have the right glasses means considering not only their visual needs but also their comfort, behavior, and style. By staying focused on these four essential factors, you will gain the skills to fit kids’ glasses that not only enhance their vision but also complement their active and vibrant lives. 

A Proper Fit

A correctly fitting pair of children’s glasses ensures a secure fit during play, the optical centers remain in correct alignment to the eyes, vision remains clear, and the wearer is comfortable.

Two crucial touch points should always be evaluated and addressed
during frame selection—bridge fit and temple fit:

→ A fixed or saddle bridge should make contact with equal pressure around the wearer’s nose bridge. Pay attention to the top of the bridge and the lower part of the fixed pads; there should be no spacing, pressing, or uneven amount of pressure. If the patient has a flatter bridge, it might be required to curve the splay of the plastic fixed bridge by applying heat to the tips of the pads and gently rounding the edge. 

The vertex distance is directly affected by the bridge fit and should be checked by looking from above and the side to make sure the glasses do not fit too close to the eyes or touch the eyelashes. Adjustable nose pads offer greater flexibility for precise fitting and additional security to remain in position but may require more frequent adjustments as they can become splayed or bent. Silicone nose pads offer additional cushion, softness, and slight stickiness—adding grip for children with small, flat, or lower bridges.

→ Temple length is an important element to help balance and hold a child’s glasses on their face. It is important to evaluate the length, ensuring there is an adequate amount to create a curve to hook around the back of the child’s ears. Make sure that the temples are not so long that the design inhibits the placement of the bend. 

When children are growing, they can have discrepancies between the size requirement of the frame front and the temple length. Wider temples or temples that taper can typically be bent only so far forward, making this adjustment prior to final frame selection essential to ensuring correctly fitted glasses. Temples that have removable tips to allow for temple shortening are a great option to offer a customized and perfect fit.

Dialing in Function

The right pair of glasses is truly functional when they are effective in correctly holding the prescription lens needs of the wearer without creating unnecessary thickness or weight. The glasses should be easy to use for the wearer, which means the ability to put them on and take them off and store them in a case. Glasses that are functional should be easy to adapt to and reliable and able to withstand abuse without frequent need for adjustment or excessive maintenance.

Ensuring Flexibility

Children’s glasses with a greater degree of flexibility that are modified or made of materials that allow them to bend, stretch, or flex without breaking or losing their original shape are great for young wearers. Frames that can withstand the particularly unforgiving wear and tear that a child puts on their glasses provide a level of durability that is particularly important to reduce breakage, warranties, and disruption of wear. This flexibility also generally leads to greater safety for the wearer. 

Having Fun

Wearing glasses should be a fun experience for children with styles that express their personality and give them confidence. Look for frames in bright colors and that have decorative details such as glitter, patterns, or even fun features like the ability to glow in the dark. 

Incorporate personalization with frames that have interchangeable decorations, magnetic clip-ons, or temples that can be swapped so kids can switch it up and “play” with their glasses. 

Offering frames that incorporate recognizable characters from TV shows, movies, or books or themes like space, animals, or superheroes can make the glasses more relatable and fun for children. Never underestimate the everyday influencers in a child’s life; offer mini-me styles designed for kids who want eyewear just like mom, dad, or grandpa.