If the doctor prescribes glasses, lenses should be made from strong, impact resistant plastic materials like polycarbonate and trivex. “These materials are thin but they are also strong,” says Eva Carver, a licensed optician who works with Leslie Green, MD, an ophthalmologist who works with Eye Physicians of Orange County.
Children involved in sports may need a separate pair of glasses with lenses that are especially designed to handle sports activities. When they become scratched lenses should be replaced. Glasses should be cleansed daily with soap and water or appropriate lens cleansers and kept in their cases when not in use.
“Frames reflect changes in children’s facial contours as they grow,” Carver says. “Frames should be comfortable, fit properly, and be suitable for each child’s individual facial changes.”
According to Carver, children’s glasses need to be changed every year unless indicated sooner by the doctor. “Lenses and frames are charged separately and the total cost runs from about $90 to $200,” she explains. “Costs are less for parents who have eye care insurance for their children.”
Rosario Flores, a Middletown mom who two sons needed glasses by age 4, says she’s glad she recognized her son’s problem when she did. “The best gift you can give your children is to make sure they do not have eye problems before they go to school.”
Joan Fox Rose is a freelance writer living in Saratoga Springs. Her work also appears in Hudson Valley Life magazine.