TTMA kids glasses

[mommyatty]

DD is going to the ophthalmologist tomorrow and there’s a great chance she’s going to need glasses. What are some things to think about? Scratch resistance, I’m assuming is important. I really don’t want the lenses that get dark in the sun. Do you guys get 2 pairs right from the start?

[twinmomma]

My kids have worn glasses since they were 3. We started with the rubbery baby kind and then when they went to kindergarten upgraded to regular plastic frames.

I've ordered glasses directly from the eye doctor and now from Walmart. Both have basically required a special kid friendly lens that's scratch resistant and made of poly-something so it can't break easily. Walmart has the best deals! For an extra $20 per pair, they put a full year warranty on it and will replace the glasses no questions asked if anything happens. They have just as good a selection as the eye doctor in terms of style (I don't care about brand name) and the prices were great.

I don't order two pairs at once, mainly because insurance covers one pair and I'm not shelling out all that extra cost. The girls don't take care of their glasses at all and we've had little to no issues with them breaking. DD2 snapped one ear piece sideways but we just super glued it until the new pair from the warranty came in.

[ilovelucyvv]

DD is 6 and has worn glasses since she was 1. We have never purchased prescription sunglasses or transitions. If i was, i would probably look for cheap prescription sunglasses online from some place like Zenni optical. If you could get glasses from a place that will replace the lenses when they get scratched the first year that is ideal. IME kids glasses get scratched all the time even if they are scratch resistant lenses. Look for the “For little eyes” group on Facebook for brand recommendations. There are some really stylish options out there for kids but a lot of retailers don’t have great options in a brick and mortar store.

[186momx]

Costco is another great place to order glasses and they have the 1 year warranty. My girlfriend orders her daughter glasses there and always switched to new glasses by the 9 month mark because she is hard on them and even with the scratch proof and everything else they are a mess within 6 months.

I personally don't like the transition lenses. I found that they took forever to switch and wouldn't stay dark in the car so I was always squinting when driving. This last time I just ordered prescription glasses and sunglasses on eyebydirect as my lenses are straight forward as of now so it was easy.

[madringal]

I didn't get transitions or anything for my DD when she got glasses at 6. I also didn't get a second pair. My sister is an optometrist and owns the cutest optical boutique so I'm slightly obsessed with getting DD2 new pairs, so we have spares now. We do the scratch resistant lenses that have the blue light filter on them since she has a school issued iPad she works on all day.

PDQ - here is her newest pair (sorry if it's huge!)

[vasc]

DD, age 6, got her first pair over the summer. We just got one pair from Walmart. Definitely scratch resistant.

The rule at our house is “on your face or in the case.”

[vasc]

I’ll also say that, while my instinct was to steer her towards the generic, cheaper frames, she chose more pricey Hello Kitty frames, loves them, and wears them without complaint. So definitely focus on what will make your DD feel good about them and *want* to wear them.

[greenmonkey1]

DS2 (5 years) has worn glasses since he was 3. DS3 (2 years) has worn glasses since he was 1. Both wear Miraflex frames with the scratch resistant lens covering. I love the Miraflex frames; we've had no issues with the frames breaking or pinched fingers. They are pricey (and we don't have true vision insurance, just some coverage through the medical), but I've felt they are worth the investment. The one headache we've had is that DS3 figured out how to pop out the lens (he'd twist the frames and the one lens would pop out). DS3 has also has two decent scratches in the lens because he scraped them on a tooth. The scratches drive me nuts, but doesn't seem to impact DS3's ability to see so I'll get the lens replaced when they get more scratched. I've learned the scratch resistant coating is no match for a young child over the course of a year.

We do have two pairs for each kid, but I didn't get them immediately. Because of the boys' prescriptions the lens have to be sent out, which takes time. Having a back-up pair makes me less anxious.

DS2 has asked about transition lenses, but I haven't gone that route yet. Both of the boys wear hats all the time while outside so really sunglasses were more for the car and riding bikes. I found an inexpensive pair of sunglasses that fit over their glasses on Amazon that work fine and don't require an investment that we're stuck with if DS2 doesn't like the transitions.

[abs]

DD is 8 and has worn glasses since she was 4. She’s always been careful about keeping them in the case when not wearing them so we’ve never had a back up pair. I do recommend scratch resistant.

[CrazyLucky]

DS is 9 and on his first pair of glasses. DH went with him to pick them out. DH called and told me, "He picked Croc brand, but don't worry, they're not ugly." I have a strong dislike of Crocs. Anyway, they are not ugly, they're black and neon green. And they don't look like little kid rubbery ones, but they are flexible. He is a typical 9 year old, and we can use that flexibiity.

[galaxy8227]

DD (5) got hers about 8 months ago. We got ones from Target, the Cat and Jack line. We paid the extra money for the year long warranty. She actually broke the side piece off the other day, was easy to fix at our local eye store so we've been pretty luck with them. I didn't bother getting a second pair cause insurance covered only one. We didn't get prescription sunglasses, usually shes only in sunglasses at the beach of in the car so it's easy enough to deal with.

[mommyatty]

She picked these out. Hilarious story, DH insisted we go to LensCrafter for the hour service. DD found her frames and we went to go over the options, and they told us they no longer do the glasses in store, unless they just happen to have the lenses. Luckily, they had hers. But I would have taken her to Target and saved a bundle, I’m sure. But noooo. We can’t handle waiting a week for the glasses.