When it comes to prescription glasses for kids, parents often look for something durable. Kids, depending on their age, might want specs with some added flair. So how do you know which glasses to choose?
Barbara Ranville, an optician formerly at Children’s Eye Care — with locations in Clinton Township, Dearborn, Detroit and West Bloomfield — says there are plenty of options for strong glasses with style.
Here’s a peek at some of the best glasses for kids.
Have a favorite brand or style? Tell us in the comments below.
Miraflex Glasses
For the youngest kids, Ranville recommends Miraflex glasses. These metal-free glasses have no screws, pads or hinges — and come in a variety of sizes.
“The Miraflex are durable. The kids can just whip them off and not worry about breaking them,” Ranville says. “We have a lot of special needs kids who wear them, as well, as they are so much easier for their parents and teachers.”
The Miraflex glasses come in a variety of different styles and colors. Each comes with a coordinating band to keep the glasses snug on the child’s face. The plastic frames can be easily bent and molded back into shape, too.
EasyTwist with TurboFlex
For kids who are ready to move on from Miraflex glasses, she says EasyTwist with TurboFlex from Aspex Eyewear is a good next step.
“They have temples that are able to bend 360 degrees. There is a superb spring action in the frame. When it gets bent, the frame goes right back to shape,” Ranville says.
While the frames are metal, the temples can easily be molded to fit a child well and the hinges are strong enough to take the wear of a child.
Dilli Dalli Tutti Frutti
For those who need a firmer frame, Ranville likes the Dilli Dalli Tutti Frutti.
“These frames are great for high-power lenses. The temples are still very bendable on them. The only downside is that they don’t come in very many sizes,” she says.
The Dilli Dalli Tutti Frutti glasses are made of a soft-touch material with the Dilli Dalli Intelliflex multi-action spring hinges. They also include a band to keep the glasses on young children.
Ray Ban Jr.
For moms and dads who are Ray Ban fans, pass along your love for the brand to your child.
The Ray Ban glasses come in various shapes. They are made of metal or plastic and offer a variety of options for kids, plus they are durable and come in small sizes, Ranville says.
“Glasses for kids that have thicker temples or spring-action temples are the best and the Ray Bans offer that,” she adds.
Lacoste
Another good choice for children’s glasses comes from Lacoste.
“These glasses are very bendable and have a flexible temple,” she says. “They are also great for kids with headaches and sensory issues because the material isn’t as hard and forms to the child.”
Erin’s World, specs4us
This specialty frame is designed for kids with Down syndrome and other special needs. They are outfitted with a lower bridge offering better support for those who need it.
“This is a very, very nice frame that was constructed by a mom of a child with Down syndrome,” Ranville says. “These frames will work well for kids from 5 years old all the way up to adults.”
Vera Bradley and Juicy Couture
For little girls looking for stylish frames, the Vera Bradley line and glasses from Juicy Couture are cute and durable.
The Vera Bradley glasses come in plastic and metal frames and offer a coordinating case for each pair. Juicy glasses are sturdy, plastic frames with several style options.
Finding the perfect frames
Regardless of which style you choose, Ranville has a few tips to make sure the glasses work best for the child.
“No matter where you buy the glasses, we always recommend that parents bring them back to the office to make sure the prescription is correct,” she says. “The child isn’t going to be able to tell you it’s wrong because they are too young.”
Try on the frames, too.
“Frame sizes are a lot like jeans. What might fit you in Guess might be totally different in Levi,” she says.
Ranville also suggests allowing for a little extra growth in the frames so they fit for a year or two.
Avoid narrow lenses, too, particularly if it’s the child’s first pair of glasses. Otherwise, they will look over the top of the frames and not reap the benefits of the prescription lenses.
This post was originally published in 2018 and is updated regularly.
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