Glasses for Children

Selecting Eyeglass Frames for Children

Where to start?

One of the most important things to consider when fitting a child is the fit of the frame. The position of wear and comfort are both very important with children because if they are not looking through the prescription, there is no benefit, and if they don’t like how they feel, they will not want to wear them for long.

Most children who are prescribed glasses are excited to pick them out and typically will pick frames similar to those of their friends or brothers and sisters. However, children and frames are unique, so the frames a child chooses do not always fit correctly. When these conflicts arise, we will typically focus on the things the child likes about his friend’s or brother’s glasses, such as color or style.

When we have a few characteristics to go by, we will broaden my choices to include the blue frames. For example, have the child try each frame on and look at where they sit in respect to his pupil and also how they fit on the nose, behind the ears, and along the sides of the head.

Proper Fit

The perfect fit has the pupil centered in the lenses, both vertically and horizontally, and the earpieces running straight back to the ears without bowing out. Adjustable nose pads are generally recommended, but with the trend heading toward plastic frames, special considerations must be made regarding the fit on the child’s nose and the eye size.

When fitting a plastic frame for a child, the frame must fit correctly on the child’s nose. If the frame is too narrow, it will push itself off of the child’s nose completely, and if it is too wide, it will slide down constantly, and the child will end up looking over the glasses.

When a child tries on a plastic frame with me, I typically will sit across from them and look for light peeking through between their nose and the frame. If it is difficult to tell, I will gently tap the frame from side to side to check for any movement between the nose and the frame. If the frame moves too much, I will recommend another similar style that fits better. Another often overlooked feature to consider is the length of the earpiece. If the earpiece is too short, the frame will cut into the ear, and if it is too long, it can be extremely difficult to adjust properly.

Taking these factors into account is necessary to make sure the frame fits properly and that the patient can actually benefit from the frames they choose.

This information was written by Kody, one of our wonderful opticians here at Spokane Eye Clinic. Stop by our optical department, located at all three locations, for a free tune-up and cleaning of your glasses and to learn about your vision benefits!

To schedule an appointment, call (509) 456-0107