Eye Glasses Encourage Child to Wear Em!

How to Pick Your Kid’s Glasses

A successful eye doctor visit is only half the battle when it comes to helping your child see better. The hard part comes when you have to persuade him to wear his new glasses every day. Follow these steps to find the right specs and help him want to keep them on.

Fit the frames: They shouldn’t pinch his ears or nose, or weigh down his face. Check the spots where they touch his face every so often to make sure his skin isn’t irritated.

Get the prescription right: If your child looks over the tops of his glasses or complains that he can’t see with them, his prescription may be wrong. Go back to your optician or eye doctor and get it checked out.

Start slowly: Have him wear the glasses for short periods of time while he sits down at the beginning. Then gradually increase how long he keeps them on.

Set a schedule: Make his eyeglasses part of his daily routine. Encourage him to put them on in the morning when he gets dressed and take them off at night before he goes to bed.

Pile on the praise: Let him know what a good job he’s doing every time he wears his glasses.

What if He Refuses?
If he just won’t do it, troubleshoot first. Is the prescription correct? If it is, explain again why he needs them. And don’t forget to praise him when he wears them.

What if He Plays Sports?
Whether it’s prescription or not, protective eyewear is a great way to prevent injuries. It’s a good idea for any kid who’s into:

Your child may not want to use protective eyewear at first, especially if he’s the only one on the team who has it. But you can help. Let him pick out the eye gear, so he’s in charge of style. Or lead by example and wear the gear yourself when you play sports.

SOURCES:Emory Eye Center: “Eyeglasses for babies? Isn’t that premature?”DukeHealth.org: “Children and Glasses: Making a Spectacle.”
Reviewed by Brian S. Boxer Wachler, MD on 1/10/2018
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