This August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety month and we’re here to help you navigate your children’s eye health. Keep reading for tips on getting your child to wear their glasses and helping them adjust to their new vision.
Children’s Eye Tests
Children should have their eyes tested every two years from around the age of 4. There are signs your child might need glasses that you can look out for. These include:
- Tilting their head or squinty their eyes to see
- Rubbing their eyes frequently
- Complaining of headaches or sore eyes
- A ‘turn’ in their eye
- Holding books or screens close to their face
All children in the UK are eligible for free NHS eye tests as well as an NHS optical voucher to help towards the cost of the glasses too.
My child needs glasses – now what?
If your child needs glasses, it’s important to encourage them to wear them as often as they need.
Some children refuse to wear their glasses and there can be many reasons for this including:
- Self-consciousness: Your child may be concerned about their looks or being teased by others.
- Discomfort: They may find glasses uncomfortable.
- The strange-ness of their new vision: Even with the right prescription, seeing the world differently can feel strange.
How to get your child to wear glasses
Wearing glasses for the first time can be a big change for children. We encourage parents to be patient with their child as they learn to adapt to their new glasses. Here’s some tips to get your child to wear their glasses:
- Get them involved in choosing their glasses: Involving children in decision-making helps boost confidence and gives a sense of control. Choosing glasses that they like may make them more likely to wear them.
- Use positive reinforcements: Use positive language, offer compliments to boost self-esteem and consider using a reward chart for younger children.
- Set a good example and wear your own glasses if you have them.
- Teach them how to look after and clean their glasses: Giving children a sense of responsibility instils pride and allows them to feel in control.
- Ensure their glasses are fitted properly: Ill-fitting glasses will be uncomfortable and are more likely to fall off and break. Ensure your child’s glasses fit properly and get them adjusted when required by your optician.
- Get into a good routine: Make wearing glasses part of their routine and it’ll soon become second-nature.
Time to adjust to glasses
It’s important to remember that wearing glasses is a big change. Your child’s new vision may make them feel disorientated or dizzy so it’s important to allow them time to adjust.
Create a positive experience by having your child wear their glasses for an activity they enjoy where they’ll see the most difference i.e. watching TV or reading. This will allow your child to see the benefit of wearing their glasses.
You can also try slowly building up the time your child is wearing their glasses. Start with shorter periods and slowly build up to the recommended time. You can try using a timer or associating the glasses with certain activities.
If you have any concerns about your child’s eye health or eyesight, contact your local Optical Express clinic today to speak to one of our expert optometrists.
Book a children's eye test