Children's Eyewear

Children's frames are made of either plastic or metal, and many styles like the round eye or aviator are unisex. Kids often look at adult frames or frames worn by celebrities on social media to look more grown-up. It's not unusual for kids to choose glasses that look like those worn by their older siblings or their parents.

Plastic frames are considered more durable, less likely to be bent or broken, and fit all over the bridge of the nose for better weight distribution and comfort. Today there is an array of lightweight plastic materials that are hypoallergenic and very flexible.

Metal frames have pads which sit on each side of the bridge of the nose. The composition of metal frames varies from different alloys to thin stainless steel to lightweight titanium. Choose frames made of hypoallergenic materials if your child has shown sensitivity to certain substances. For example, some people are allergic to metal frames that contain nickel.

One of the toughest parts about choosing suitable frames for young children is that their noses are not fully developed, so they don't have a bridge to prevent plastic frames from sliding down. It is extremely important that the right bridge size is chosen for these small developing bridges. Metal frames are made with adjustable nose pads, so they virtually fit everyone.

Each frame must be evaluated individually to make sure it fits the bridge. If any gaps exist between the bridge of the frame and the bridge of the nose, the weight of the lenses will cause the glasses to slide, no matter how well the frame seems to fit before the lenses are made. Children with very flat or shallow bridges should be fitted with either a metal frame, so that the pads can be adjusted to fit, or a plastic frame with a very narrow, thicker bridge, such as an Asian-fitting bridge.

It's important that the glasses stay in place; otherwise kids tend to look over the top of the lenses instead of pushing their glasses back up where they belong. Whether the child chooses a plastic or a metal frame, always make sure the arms are of the correct length. Too short and the glasses will slip, as there is not enough length over the ear to hold the frame; too long and the sides will project below the ear and hurt on the soft part of the ear.

For a baby or toddler, a frame with cable temples, which wrap around the back of the ear to stop the glasses from sliding constantly or dropping off, is highly advisable. Alternatively you can choose a frame that includes an elastic strap that goes around the head to stop the slipping. An optician is usually the best judge of whether a frame fits properly on the bridge and behind the ears.

At Eye Opticians, all children's frames are fitted with plastic lenses as standard. It is advisable that children's glasses are glazed with PNX material. This material is significantly more impact-resistant than other lens materials for added safety, and it is also significantly lighter than regular plastic lenses, with a scratch-resistant coating. PNX also has built-in protection against damaging UV light, which at a young age is important to protect children from.

There are different types of lenses available, and our staff can guide your choices there too. Some children will benefit from thinner lenses, while others will want stronger lenses and well-designed frames that make it safe to play all sorts of sports. We can also discuss the option of contact lenses, which will appeal to older children.

Polycarbonate and PNX are such safe lens materials that you may be tempted to let your child play sports in their regular glasses. Here's the drawback: although polycarbonate and PNX are the lens materials used for sports eyewear, regular frames do not provide enough protection from large objects such as balls, rackets, bats and flying elbows. So if your child is involved in sports, a proper sports goggle with polycarbonate or PNX lenses will provide the best protection against eye injury. At Eye Opticians we carry a large selection of sports goggles for all types of sports, and we will be more than happy to advise on the best goggle for optimum protection for your child's sport.

At Eye Opticians you can choose from a selection of styles that can be purchased free with an NHS voucher, as well as a large collection of frames ranging from £19 to children's designer frames like Ray-Ban, Lindberg and Safilo. All children's glasses come with plastic lenses. We also offer thinner, lighter and protective lenses at reduced prices, should we feel they would benefit.

Every spectacle lens has a centre, and your child should be looking through the centre of their lenses. If your child's specs slip they may experience distorted vision when they look through the top of the lens, or they may look over the specs and gain no benefit from them at all. Children's faces change shape and they can be rough with their glasses, so they may need regular frame adjustments.

Because children can be tough on their glasses, it's a good idea to purchase a second, or backup, pair of glasses for them, especially if your child has a strong prescription and cannot function without their glasses. If your child wears glasses full-time, photochromic lenses or prescription sunglasses should be considered to decrease glare, increase visual comfort and provide 100% protection from the sun's harmful UV rays.