Brendn is three and a half (four in February) and I took him to the eye doctor on Friday and he has to get glasses. Anyone have any experience with kids this young and getting glasses? Any insight would be appreciated! Thanks!

By Christylee on Saturday, October 16, 2004 - 10:37 pm:

opps, can't even spell my own son's name, it's Brendan. lol...

By Trina~moderator on Saturday, October 16, 2004 - 10:50 pm:

My kids don't wear glasses but as a former teacher who has had students with glasses, I suggest getting insurance. They WILL get broken and often. Maybe even invest in a 2nd pair as a back up.

This could explain some of Brendan's difficulties at school. My DH got glasses in Kindergarten. He said he vividly remembers when he first started wearing them. He was amazed about the things he could see that he had never noticed before.

By Emily7 on Saturday, October 16, 2004 - 11:51 pm:

Christy we have a place that you buy 1 pair get a second pair free. Do have any places like that in your town?
I bet he starts doing a lot better in school. My sister had to get glasses right at about that age & her eyesight corrected itself by the time she was in 1st grade.

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, October 17, 2004 - 12:11 am:

I started wearing them at 5 and still wear them today. I did break quite a few pair in my day! LOL!

By Ginny~moderator on Sunday, October 17, 2004 - 07:03 am:

My oldest started wearing them at about 3-1/2. Do get a strap to keep them on his head. Do make sure he has a single place to put them on his dresser or bed table every night - preferably in a case in a drawer. Do get a spare pair. If you can get unbreakable lenses, do that. If you can get them anti-scratch treated, do that. Teach your son how to clean the lenses and make it part of the bedtime routine.

My son was so thrilled that he could actually SEE (he was terribly farsighted) that I had no problem with him keeping the glasses on. I did have problems when he was playing outside (hence the strap) and in the glasses being misplaced (hence the one single place to put them EVERY time).

By Karen~moderator on Sunday, October 17, 2004 - 10:26 am:

Jeff started wearing bifocals at 15 months, after 2 eye surgeries. Definitely get scratch resistant lenses! They also make frames for little kids, where the temple piece that goes behind the ear, is flexible *wire*, covered with with something, so it holds them on really well.

He will have to be taught how to take care of them, and don't be surprised if they get broken! At that age, it WILL happen. Some places have ins. you can buy on the glasses, and with a young child it is WELL worth it. And I would definitely get 2 pairs!

Let him have a part in picking out his frames too, that usually helps them with the adjustment of having to wear them.

By Jackie on Sunday, October 17, 2004 - 01:34 pm:

My 5 yr old daughter got hers when she was 4. We took her to the eye dr because one of her eyes turned in, found out she also couldnt see close up..Who knew
She is to wear them all the time, and she does. Im was so surprised she keeps them on, but Im thinking because she can see so much better.
We went through 3 pairs the first yr. The first replacement was free, each pair after was 60$ OUCH!.. We told her if she breaks them again she will have to get the "ugly pair"..The lady at the eyeglass place keeps a pair of not so attractive glasses out, and she tells the kids if they keep breaking their glasses then they have to get the "ugly pair".. mydaughter still talks about the ugly pair of glasses there LOL

By Kittycat_26 on Monday, October 18, 2004 - 08:10 am:

I've worn glasses since I was 3 and just like all the others above I've been through quite a few pair. They've been lost and broken both.

Besides the scratch resistant coating be sure and get the spring frames. I don't know what they call it but you can bend out the pieces that go to behind your ear and they just go back into place. It will save the glasses getting stretched out and needing to be taken back to the shop to be tightened.

By Christylee on Tuesday, October 19, 2004 - 02:10 pm:

Thanks for all your advice and support on this guys. I really appreciated it.