keeping your child seeing clearly

Three Steps To Caring For Your Child's Glasses

Three steps to caring for your toddler's glasses 

If your child has just gotten glasses and is learning to wear them, much of the duty of caring for the glasses will fall on you as a parent. You'll need to teach your child to wear the glasses constantly and how to treat the glasses so as not to break them, and you'll need to keep the glasses clean and keep an eye on their condition so you can make adjustment or repair appointments as needed. This doesn't have to be overwhelming, though. Here are three steps to help you take care of your toddler's glasses and prolong their working lifespan.

1. Train your child

If your child hasn't ever worn glasses before, you'll need to not only teach the child to keep the glasses on throughout the day but also how to safely don and remove the glasses. Demonstrate for your child how to use both hands, one on each side, to place the glasses evenly on his or her face and be sure to emphasize that two hands must be used for removal as well. If your child tries to remove the glasses one-handed, the glasses may bend and become misshapen or asymmetrical or may even snap, depending on the type of material used. You should also teach your child that the glasses must be folded and placed in the hard-sided case as soon as they are removed. This can prevent an enormous variety of mishaps that could otherwise result in crushing, twisting, bending, scratching, or otherwise damaging the glasses. 

2. Clean carefully

Although it may seem soft, a paper tissue or other paper product has the potential to actually scratch your child's glasses. The lenses are susceptible to damage and must only be wiped with a cotton or microfiber cloth. When cleaning, use only gentle chemicals such as specially formulated cleaner for lenses or very mild soap. Harsh window-cleaning chemicals can damage the glasses and should never be used.

3. Schedule adjustments

Your child will be able to wear the glasses comfortably for longer if you ensure that they're properly adjusted on a regular basis. Your child's glasses need adjustment if you notice that they don't fit quite the same way that they used to. Children, and especially toddlers, grow quickly and a sudden growth spurt may cause once-comfortable glasses to pinch. Some of the signs you may notice if your toddler's glasses don't fit correctly include:

• Marks (either red marks or slight indentations) behind the child's ears where the frames rest
• Marks on the sides of the child's face, indicating that the frames have been pressing in because they're too small
• Marks on the nose that persist five minutes or more after taking off the glasses
• Glasses that don't naturally sit straight or that won't stay in position on the child's face

If you notice any of these signs, or if your child indicates to you that the glasses are no longer comfortable, you'll need to schedule an adjustment right away.

These three steps will help you keep your child's glasses functional and comfortable, ensuring that your child's first experience with glasses is a good one and helping to build good life-long eyewear care habits.