Need Advice from Mom's with a Young Child Who Wears Eyeglasses.

Updated on January 12, 2009
J.L. asks from Dearborn, MI
14 answers

Hi Ladies. My almost 4 yr old son just started wearing glasses for farsightedness (strong prescription). So far he is pretty good about leaving them on. I may be getting ahead of myself, but I started thinking about all the physical activities that I have planned for him this summer and going forward and I'm not sure how his glasses will stay intact. I plan to get him involved in soccer, maybe another sport, and swimming in the summer. What do I need to do to make sure his glasses stay on and intact. The eyeglass place suggested prescription goggles, not sure I like that idea. What do Mom's do in this situation to protect the glasses. Thanks for your input.

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S.S.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Goggles are the way to go. I wore glasses since I was 5, before prescription goggles for kids were invented. I cannot tell you how many pairs of glasses I went through, not to mention superglue to hold the temples on. Straps to hold the glasses on don't work if there is any chance of getting hit in the face, such as soccer, that's what I had. There are so many types of goggles these days that don't look as geeky.

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K.F.

answers from Saginaw on

J., First Did you get INSURANCE on the glasses? If not go back and ask for it. You have a couple of options, they make a safety strap to hold glasses on, yes presc. goggles, they are expensive and a little much at that age. Not Much else out there. K

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D.M.

answers from Detroit on

Hi J.---I'd just like to add that we were hesitant to get goggles for my daughter when she played soccer. She wasn't very active, but when she was hit in the face two weeks in a row, we decided that her safety was far more important than cost. I believe that even shatter proof lenses can break and that frames can cut if they are hit hard enough. It's just not worth the risk.

She also likes to swim, but didn't very much because she couldn't see. She's got very poor eyesight and does not have binocular vision. I almost cried for her when I found out that swim goggles were less than $40, if I rememeber correctly. I found out that they were indeed prescription, but not to her exact needs. They make the goggles in a 'prescriptive' range and so they improved her sight well enough so she could see the clock and lap counter from the pool. We even had a prescription snorkle made for her when we went on a cruise so that she could see all the cool stuff in the coral reefs. Didn't cost as much as we thought.

Good luck and have fun. In health, D.

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M.S.

answers from Detroit on

My son got glasses when he was 3 years old, he is 7 now and other than occasionally losing them :) we haven't had a problem. I made sure to get him the "C" shaped ear pieces that wrap around his ear, (so they don't fall or slide off) and shatter proof lenses. He has taken sports and karate and I have him keep them on during his activity's. (Except for swimming, he swims without his glasses) and there hasn't been any interference because of them.

T.M.

answers from Lansing on

My now 8 year old son has worn glasses since he was 2 years old. He participates in all the activites you mentioned, plus more and we've never bought him perscription goggles. Over the years his glasses have broken, but never while playing a sport. Our eye doctor offers a kids pack insurance plan that we always buy - it means that they will replace any part of his glasses for free regardless of why/how the glasses got broke.

Good luck!

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B.J.

answers from Detroit on

My son got glasses when he was 2 yrs old and he is now 13. He has played every sport there is to play and we have never had a problem. I will say a few years back we got him goggles for soccer and basketball, as he got older the sports became a bit more aggressive and I didn't want to take any chances. We used to have them adjusted and fixed from time to time because he is a boy and that's all I have to say about that....lol. He now wears contacts and has for about 6 months and loves them. Good Luck

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M.W.

answers from Kalamazoo on

i have a child with ADHD and wears glasses. i advise on having the warranty when you get them. i learned with my younger son who wears them and broke the first pair in less than a wk. i would also recommend on the goggles since they are made for the higher activity you want him involved in.

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S.S.

answers from Detroit on

One solution would be to purchase a strap to put on the back of the glasses so that they don't fall off when your child is active. I work with a special needs kid who wears glasses and his constantly fall off.

S.

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C.C.

answers from Detroit on

My son got glasses last April. He played Tee-ball this year. We got a strap from the ophthalmologist's office that cost $4.00. It has a plastic loop on each end to hook on behind the ear and the strap is mostly elastic. There is a plastic adjuster on it to make it tighter or looser. It worked great for him. He wore it just fine, even with his hat and batting helmet. No worries.

Good luck!

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J.R.

answers from Saginaw on

Both of my daughters wear glasses and are avid swimmers. We purchased prescription goggles and they are a lifesaver. Now they can see us during their lessons or while we go to the beach. They don't care how they look. They just want the security of being able to see. Also, I would agree that a sport strap would be a good idea. My daughter played softball and never had an issue with her glasses, but you just never know when they'll fall and the glasses go flying!
Plan to spend some extra time and money on glasses for a few years. No matter how careful kids are, stuff happens! I hope you have good insurance. Ask your eye doc what he/she recommends. Ours was a big help.

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C.B.

answers from Detroit on

Rx goggles would work. My oldest had them for a while when he was in karate. The problem with that is that his protective head gear would push down on them and he couldn't breathe through his nose. As that's not the case in soccer, it shouldn't be a problem. You should ask the optician and maybe even the coach.

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A.S.

answers from Detroit on

i have a 7 year old that wears classes and he has been through about 3 glasses a year. My son is very active. get his perscription and his pupil distance you can order glass from zennioptical.com on the inernet for cheap. i pay 28 dollars for glass for my kids because he goes through them like candy. may have what you need not sure. but doesn't hurt to look.

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L.B.

answers from Lansing on

Hi J.. If your son is far sighted - he needs his script to see up close. For play or outside activities, he may be able to go without his glasses unless the activity requires up-close viewing. I wouldn't spend the money for prescription goggles unless he is going to be VERY active in sports and maybe if he was a bit older (at least through one more growth spurt).

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L.U.

answers from Lansing on

perscription sports goggles worked great.... my son had them when he was young and they survived gym class and karate, sledding, skiing, etc.

a word of warning. You want to get the kind that have venting or open areas on the side or they fog up when the wearer gets sweaty. Just remember that this kind, though you can wear them swimming, does not keep water out of your eyes. Kids sometimes mistakenly believe they are swim goggles. I wear them, too, for sports, and you can swim in them( If I can't see, I can't supervise my children), but water does get in your eyes. Overall, money well spent. Children on the sidelines because they can't see or are timid for fear of breaking their glasses, or clumsy because they take their glasses off have very little fun.

Another related tip.... if you spend a bit more and get the flex-frame glasses (titanium frames is one option), you will be able to have them re-adjusted when the normal boy rough and tumble bends them out of shape, instead of replacing ones that break.
take care, L.

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