Top Tips and Tricks for Buying Children’s Eyewear

 The chances are good that if you and/or your partner wear glasses, your child will need some form of visual help too. Fortunately, long gone are the days of ugly, miniature models of mom and pop glasses for children to wear. Today, children can select from a large variety of eyewear; whether they want their glasses colorful, flashy, subtle or outrageous, you are likely to find just about anything anywhere you look.

Make certain that your child feels a part of the frame selection process. Nothing is more important in terms of getting children to wear their glasses and take better care of them as well.

When buying eyeglasses for your children, you want to investigate fun and hip designs but also popular trends for children. What is cool and interesting for adults after all, isn’t necessarily what is cool and interesting for children.

Without the constraints of adulthood, such as a conservative office environment, kids have a lot more freedom in the style, color, and shape of the glasses they can wear. Take advantage of it!

While kids might want a specific frame color or brand, parents should be concerned about the durability and safety of the lenses and the frame. Your eye care professional is your best source of information on what’s available: durable spring hinges, flexible and strong new frame materials, impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses, and UV-blocking photo chromic lenses that automatically change from light to dark when UV is present.

Many children prefer frames molded after popular cartoon characters. They may prefer plastic to metal frames. It is important you keep in mind your child’s personality as well as what is practical and useful when buying eyeglasses for your children.

Choosing glasses: durability and safety concerns

Do you need to go to a pediatric optometrist? Probably not; most optometrists and other eye care professionals carry a wide selection of eye wear, even for children. But you might want to call ahead to find out what types of eye wear they offer, especially if you or your child have something specific in mind.

But how to choose a child’s eye wear? It’s important that their glasses do several things: they have to fit well, give clear vision, and be safe for even the roughest children. Also, since children are not as careful with their glasses as adults would be, it is important that you choose their frames and lenses with durability in mind. Some of the best choices for eye glass materials for children include:

• Polycarbonate plastics for frames and lenses. Extremely durable and frames can be virtually any color or shape, so you’re sure to find something to please even the most reluctant child.
• Polycarbonate lenses must be given a scratch-resistant coating.
• Metals, especially titanium. Titanium is one of the toughest metals and can be made into a fairly lightweight frame.
• Sports frames. If your child is active in sports, or maybe just a bit more accident prone than the average kid, it may be wise to consider using sports frames even for everyday use.

Keep in mind that even the most durable materials can still break. Your child should be taught that his or her glasses are very important and shown how to handle them correctly. If your child is particularly careless or forgetful, and simple reminders are ineffective, consider more creative tactics. For example, a really cool glasses case might inspire your child to put their glasses away properly for the night.

Color and style

Whenever possible, you should involve your child in the process of choosing their glasses. Any child will be much more likely to actually wear their glasses if they like them and find them comfortable. Some children may prefer frames in their favorite color or with a popular cartoon character, while others will want more grown-up style frames, perhaps ones that look like mom’s or dad’s. You may be surprised by what your child chooses. At some frame stores, you may even find buy-one, get-one-free sales which can make the frames into more of a fun fashion accessory than a medical necessity.

It’s important to be patient while you’re shopping for glasses. An adult might take an hour or longer to choose their glasses, however they might expect a child to make the same choice in a few minutes of time. Choose a day when you have time to spare; don’t sandwich the trip between ten other errands. Encourage your child to try on different frames so they can discover their own unique style.

Getting glasses on a reluctant child

Even with the cutest frames and the best lenses, there might still be some reluctance to wear the glasses. Some kids would rather deal with fuzzy vision and fail classes than be seen wearing glasses, especially if they are being teased by their classmates (or fear they will be). If this is the case with your child, try pointing out that many of their favorite sports stars, actors and musicians wear glasses. In addition, if your child is hoping to get contact lenses, remind them that they will first have to show you that they can handle the responsibility by wearing and caring for their glasses correctly.

Do I Need A Warranty?

Children’s glasses are bound to get scratched, dropped, stepped on and lost. Because of this you should consider buying a warranty. When looking for a warranty, consider one that will replace scratched lenses, lost glasses or more. However, if the cost of the warranty is more than buying new glasses, you might forgo it altogether.

Some parents simply opt for a “back up” pair of glasses instead of a warranty. This is a good idea if your child’s prescription is very strong and they have a hard time seeing without their glasses. In this case, doing without their glasses for a day or two may not be a reasonable alternative, so it is best you have a back up pair in the event your child loses or breaks their glasses beyond repair.

According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), infants should have their first comprehensive eye exam at 6 months of age. Children then should have additional eye exams at age 3, and just before they enter the first grade — at about age 5 or 6.

Different types of eye tests are carried out as per age of the child and as per their eye developmental state.

Eye Testing for Infants

Babies should be able to see as well as adults in terms of focusing ability, color vision and depth perception by 6 months of age. To assess whether your baby’s eyes are developing normally, the doctor typically will use the following tests:

• Tests of pupil responses evaluate whether the eye’s pupil opens and closes properly in the presence or absence of light.
• “Fixate and follow” testing determines whether your baby’s eyes are able to fixate on and follow an object such as a light as it moves. Infants should be able to fixate on an object soon after birth and follow an object by the time they are 3 months old.
• Preferential looking involves using cards that are blank on one side with stripes on the other side to attract the gaze of an infant to the stripes. In this way, vision capabilities can be assessed without the use of a typical eye chart.

Eye Testing for Preschool Children

Some parents are surprised to learn that preschool-age children do not need to know their letters in order to undergo certain eye tests, even when they are too young or too shy to verbalize. Some common eye tests used specifically for young children include:

• LEA Symbols for young children are similar to regular eye tests using charts with letters, except that special symbols in these tests include an apple, house, square and circle.
• Retinoscopy is a test that involves shining a light into the eye to observe the reflection from the back of the eye (retina). This test helps eye doctors determine your child’s eyeglass prescription.
• Random Dot Stereopsis testing uses special patterns of dots and 3-D glasses to measure how well your child’s eyes work together as a team.

Vision Screening and Your Child’s Performance in School

Remember that appropriate vision testing at an early age is vital to insure your child has the visual skills he or she needs to perform well in school.

A child who is unable to see print or view a blackboard can become easily frustrated, leading to poor academic performance. Some vision problems, such as lazy eye, are best treated if they are detected and corrected as early as possible while the child’s vision system is still developing.

These days I was really worried about my child’s eyes. He has started moving forward and stand too close to TV while watching TV. That was really alarming sign for me to schedule an appointment with an eye specialist.

As a parent, you may wonder whether your preschooler has a vision problem or when you should schedule your child’s first eye exam.

Eye exams for children are extremely important, because 5 to 10 percent of preschoolers and 25 percent of school-aged children have vision problems. Early identification of a child’s vision problem can be crucial because children often are more responsive to treatment when problems are diagnosed early.

According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), infants should have their first comprehensive eye exam at 6 months of age. Children then should have additional eye exams at age 3, and just before they enter the first grade — at about age 5 or 6.

For school-aged children, the AOA recommends an eye exam every two years if no vision correction is required. Children who need eyeglasses or contact lenses should be examined annually or as recommended by their optometrist or ophthalmologist. The optometrist or ophthalmologist will suggest the frequency of eye exam as per the situation demands. For my son his ophthalmologist has suggested a visit after 3 months and then after each 6 months.

Early eye exams also are important because children need the following basic skills related to good eyesight for learning:

• Near vision
• Distance vision
• Binocular (two eyes) coordination
• Eye movement skills
• Focusing skills
• Peripheral awareness
• Hand-eye coordination

Early eye examinations are crucial to make sure children have normal, healthy vision so they can perform better at schoolwork or play.

When scheduling an eye exam for your child, be sure to choose a time when he or she usually is alert and happy. Specifics of how eye exams are conducted depend on your child’s age, but generally the exams will include a case history, vision testing, determination of whether eyeglasses are needed, testing of eye alignment, an eye health evaluation and, if needed, prescription of eye wear.

After you have made the appointment, you may be sent a case history form by mail, or you may be given one when you check in at the doctor’s office. The case history form will ask about your child’s birth history (also called perinatal history), including birth weight and whether or not the child was full-term.

Your eye doctor also may ask whether complications occurred during the pregnancy or delivery. Other questions will concern your child’s medical history, including current medications and past or present allergies.

Be sure to tell your eye doctor if your child has or displays any of the following:

• A history of prematurity
• Delayed motor development
• Frequent eye rubbing
• Excessive blinking
• Failure to maintain eye contact
• Inability to maintain a gaze (fixation) while looking at objects
• Poor eye tracking skills

Also, be sure to mention if your child has failed a vision screening at school or during a visit to his or her pediatrician.

Your eye doctor also will want to know about previous eye problems and treatments your child has had, such as surgeries and glasses or contact lens wear. Be sure you inform your eye doctor about any family history of eye problems requiring vision correction, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness (refractive errors), lazy eye (strabismus/amblyopia) or eye diseases.

It is important as a parent you recognize some early warning signs of vision problems in children. Young children often cannot verbalize what is going on with their eyesight. Here are some warning signs your child may have a vision problem:

1. Frequent straining to see things
2. Poor eye/hand coordination
3. Excessive blinking or Frequent eye rubbing
4. Lazy eye
5. Problems in school
6. Difficulty keeping eye contact
7. Squinting, tilting or turning the head or closing one eye when looking at things
8. Tearing
9. Frequent headaches
10. Holding books close to the face when reading or sitting close to the TV
11. Avoiding close work (sometimes by claiming they dislike it)
12. Losing place when reading or using a finger as a guide
13. Difficulty seeing distant objects, like a blackboard

Any or all of these signs may help alert you to possible vision problems early on. You can then work with your healthcare provider to help your child find a suitable pair of lenses.

In addition to nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, common vision problems of schoolchildren include:

Your child’s eyes should be examined early for vision problems such as “lazy eye” (amblyopia), in which one eye usually is weaker than the other. With amblyopia, eye patching often is used to help strengthen the weaker eye.

• Lazy eye (amblyopia): Your eye doctor will want to rule out amblyopia, or “lazy eye,” which is decreased vision in one or both eyes without detectable anatomic damage. Unfortunately, amblyopia is not always correctable with eyeglasses or contact lenses and may require eye patching to strengthen the weaker eye.
• Misalignment of eyes (strabismus): Crossed or misaligned eyes (strabismus) can have different causes, such as problems with muscle control in the affected eye or eyes. Strabismus is a common cause of amblyopia and should be treated early in childhood so vision and eye teaming skills can develop normally.
• Inability to maintain eye alignment when viewing near objects (convergence insufficiency): Eye doctors will assess the ability of eyes to pull inward (convergence) and maintain proper alignment for comfortable reading.
• Focusing ability, depth perception and color vision: The eye doctor also may test your child’s focusing (accommodation) ability. Depth perception or ability to gauge distances between objects also may be examined, and color blind tests may be used to assess your child’s color vision. [Read more about color vision and how the eye refracts light.]

• Anterior eye and eyelid health: Your eye doctor will closely examine your child’s eyelids to look for abnormal or infected eyelash follicles, bumps (papillae), discharge and swelling (edema). The doctor also will examine the cornea, iris, and lens to look for cloudiness (opacities) or other irregularities.
• “Cloudy” eyes
  If the surface of the eye, which is normally clear, instead appears cloudy, there may be a cataract or other problem.

• Ptosis
  This condition involves a drooping upper eyelid that covers the eye either somewhat or entirely, and so blocks vision.
• Learning disabilities and vision
  Learning disabilities include disorders in understanding or using spoken or written language or symbols.

These disabilities result from the brain’s misinterpretation of images received and relayed by the eyes, rather than from structural or functional eye problems. That’s why learning disabilities are not treatable by eye exercises or vision therapy. Children with learning disabilities do not have more visual problems than those who do not have learning disabilities.

The child may experience problems with reading (dyslexia), writing, listening, speaking, concentration, or mathematical calculations.

The evaluation for a learning disability should include a complete eye examination by an Eye M.D. (ophthalmologist). Treatment for learning disabilities is best provided through an educational approach, using tutors and resource teachers. Whether or not learning disabilities are suspected, all students need vision screening to check for visual acuity and general eye health.

When we think about kids’ sleep and growth, many questions come to our minds. Getting enough sleep is important for a young child for many reasons. Restoring energy to build brain connections needs adequate rest for child. Not to mention children’s sleep gives Mom and Dad a needed break But science shows that sleep also fuels physical growth.

Sleep is more important than you may think. Maybe you can think of a time when you didn’t get enough sleep. That heavy, groggy feeling is awful and, when you feel that way, you’re not at your best.

The average kid has a busy day. There’s school, taking care of your pets, running around with friends, going to sports practice or other activities, and doing the homework. It’s tiring just writing it all down. By the end of the day, the body needs a break. Sleep allows the body to rest for the next day.

The Science behind growth

Growth is a complex process that requires several hormones to stimulate various biological events in the blood, organs, muscles, and bones. A protein hormone secreted by the pituitary gland called growth hormone (or “human growth hormone”) is a key player in these events. Several factors affect its production, including nutrition, stress and exercise. In young children, though, the most important factor is sleep.

Growth hormone is released throughout the day. But for kids, the most intense period of release is shortly after the beginning of deep sleep.

No child grows at a perfectly steady rate throughout this period of childhood. Weeks or months of slightly slower growth alternate with mini “growth spurts” in most children. Kids actually tend to grow a bit faster in the spring than during other times of the year!

How much sleep do they need?

Kindergartners need about 10 to 12 1/2 hours of sleep per night (with naps declining and eventually disappearing around age 5), and older elementary age kids need 9 1/2 to 11 1/2 hours a night. Sleep needs are somewhat individual, with some kids requiring slightly less or more than their peers.

Without adequate sleep, growth problems - mainly slowed or stunted growth can result. Growth hormone production can also be disrupted in kids with certain physical sleep problems, such as obstructive sleep apnea.

More than your child’s height can be affected by a shortage of sleep. Some kids fail to produce enough growth hormone naturally, and a lack of sleep makes the problem worse. It can lead to a condition known as growth hormone deficiency that can affect heart or lung strength or immune system function. (It’s treatable with a supplementary hormone.)

Kids who don’t get enough sleep show other changes in the levels of hormones circulating in their body too. Hormones that regulate hunger and appetite can be affected, causing a child to overeat and have a preference for high-calorie carbs. What’s more, a shortage of sleep can affect the way the body metabolizes these foods, triggering insulin resistance, which is linked to type 2 diabetes.

A lack of sleep at night can also affect motor skills and concentration during the day, leading to more accidents and behavioral problems, and poor performance at school.

How to Ensure a good night’s sleep?

Most kids need more sleep than their parents think. Signs that your child may not be getting enough rest include crankiness or lethargy by day, difficulty concentrating in school or failing grades, and being hard to wake up in the morning.

To help your child get plenty of zzz’s:

• Establish a consistent bedtime. School-age children should be in bed by 8 to 9 p.m. (earlier for the youngest grades and kids who need a lot of sleep).
• Avoid stimulating activity before bedtime.
• Don’t keep a TV and computer in your child’s room.
• Set up a good bedtime routine, which helps signal to your child’s body that it’s time to wind down. This might include giving him a bath or a snack, reading a bedtime story, and talking or singing to him softly while tucking him in.
• Make sure your child’s room is conducive to sleep. It should be dark and quiet.
• Stick to the same timetable and routines for bedtime on weekends and vacations that you follow during the week. A variation once in a while won’t cause long-term disruptions, but erratic bedtimes can lead to poor sleep habits and sleep deprivation.