Single vision, bifocal or progressive: which lens is yours
Three kinds of lens, three ways of seeing near and far. How to work out which one suits your day.
Glasses for children: what to look for
Bendable frames, safe lenses and a good fit behind the ears matter more than colour.
Children are hard on glasses. They fall asleep in them, drop them, sit on them and forget them in school bags. A good children’s frame is built for that, not just a small copy of an adult frame.
Look for frames made from TR90 or silicone, which bend without snapping. Avoid metal frames for children under eight; the screws loosen and the edges can hurt if they fall. Spring hinges help too.
For lenses, choose polycarbonate or Trivex. They are lighter and much harder to shatter than standard plastic. Ask for a scratch-resistant coating, which costs little and makes lenses last far longer.
The fit behind the ears is important. Curved cable temples or a soft strap keep glasses in place while a child runs. The bridge should rest on the nose without pinching, and the child should look through the centre of the lens, not over the top.
Bring your child back every three months for a refit. Children grow quickly, and a frame that fitted in June may be tight by October.
