Children's glasses: how to choose them, age by age

In brief

• First eye checks and follow-ups are for the paediatrician and the eye doctor to decide. Italy's Bambino Gesù children's hospital recommends an eye assessment in the first year of life and a vision screening between 2 and 4.
• Young children rarely say they can't see well, so watch for the signs and, if in doubt, ask an eye doctor.
• The smallest children need soft, flexible frames. Ours start at €30 and take any lens the eye doctor prescribes.

When the eye doctor says "glasses", plenty of parents feel a small knot in the stomach. Will they keep them on? Will they break them in a week? Which frame should we choose? These are normal questions, and the good news is that children's glasses today are built for real life: running, falling over, and hands that pull them off in a second.

Here's what to know, from the first eye check to the first pair.

When should a child first see an eye doctor?

Eye checks start earlier than most people think. According to Rome's Bambino Gesù children's hospital, the first is the red reflex test, right after birth or in the first days of life. An eye assessment follows in the first 6 to 12 months, and a vision screening between 2 and 4 years.

Another Bambino Gesù page adds a visit around age 6, when school starts, and then regular checks as the eye doctor advises.

In practice: follow the schedule your paediatrician gives you, and let the eye doctor decide when to come back. If eye problems run in the family, mention it: they may suggest an earlier visit.

How to tell if your child can't see well

Don't wait for them to tell you. Under 3, the Bambino Gesù points out, children may not report any problem at all: they don't know they could see better.

Some signs, though, are worth an eye visit without waiting for the next check-up. The Bambino Gesù lists, among others:

• a squint that appears suddenly;
• holding things very close to the face;
• getting close to the television and struggling to see far away;
• conjunctivitis that doesn't clear up with the paediatrician's treatment;
• a white reflex in the pupil, which sometimes shows up in photos.

These signs aren't a diagnosis. They only tell you when to call. The diagnosis, and any prescription, come from the eye doctor.

The right frame, age by age

For the smallest children, what matters most is a frame that's soft, light and hard to break. As they grow, they move on to acetate, with flexible hinges and more grown-up shapes. Manufacturers give each model an age range. It's a good starting point, but in the end it's about how the frame fits your child's face.

The youngest: Zoobug 1-Piece Rubber

A soft rubber frame made in one piece: no screws and no hinges, so it bends instead of snapping. An adjustable strap keeps it in place even when your child is running about, and the rubber is hypoallergenic. There are six models in bright colours, at €30. You'll find them in our Zoobug optical collection.

Nursery and primary school: Zoobug in acetate

Here's a detail we often see make the difference in our fittings. Children take their glasses off with one hand, pulling from one side. Zoobug's acetate frames (Amis, Ava, Clarke, Grace, Jo, Marco, Morten, Polo, Riva, Shelby, Trixie and Viola) have flexible hinges that stretch outwards, so instead of breaking they give, then spring back.

The shapes run from Jo's soft round, made for the smallest, to the squarer Clarke and Shelby, for children who want to feel grown-up. They're all €70.

For Minions fans

If there's a Kevin, Stuart and Bob fan at home, Minions Optical has 11 models in cellulose acetate, from Banana to Tatata, at €60 (the pink tortoiseshell Poopaye is €80). The maker doesn't give an age range for these, so trying them on is the best way to get the size right.

Lenses: the eye doctor chooses, we fit them

The lens depends on the prescription, and that's the eye doctor's call. Every optical frame we sell takes any lens: single vision, varifocal, transition, mineral sun and blue-light.

When we make up the glasses, we check the fit: that the bridge rests on the nose without pinching, that the arms don't press behind the ears, and that the size suits the face. Each product page gives the size as three numbers, for example 40-14-120: lens width, bridge width and arm length, in millimetres.

How to help them wear their glasses happily

A pair they chose themselves is a pair that stays on. A few practical tips:

• Let them choose. The colour, the shape, their favourite Minion: if they like them, they'll wear them.
• For the youngest, use the strap. On the Zoobug rubber frame, the adjustable strap keeps the glasses in place during play.
• Don't panic when they yank them off. Every child does it. It's exactly why the flexible hinges on Zoobug's acetate frames stretch outwards instead of breaking.
• Keep a little routine. Glasses on in the morning, into the case at night, always in the same place.

If they keep taking them off after a few days, or complain, let us check the fit and talk to the eye doctor.

How much they cost

Our children's optical frames cost from €30 (Zoobug rubber) to €80. Lenses depend on the prescription and are added to the price of the frame.

Delivery is free across Europe. You have 14 days to return a pair (return shipping is paid by you), and two years' warranty against manufacturing defects.

If you'd rather spread the cost, there's also UV Club: €30 a month for 12 months, for two pairs a year, with single-vision lenses included, chosen from all our brands, Zoobug and Minions included. It isn't a discount: it's a way to pay in instalments. And it isn't a subscription either; it ends on its own after 12 months.

Where to try them

The best way to choose is to try them on. Come to UV Studio Brescia, Via Fratelli Dandolo 5/7, Wednesday to Sunday: we'll measure, try and adjust together. If you're further away, message us on WhatsApp on +39 329 752 8381, or ask Iris, our personal shopper.

Frequently asked questions

How young can a child wear glasses? As soon as the eye doctor prescribes them, even very early. Zoobug's rubber frames are recommended from age 2.

Glasses or contact lenses? In children, vision problems are usually corrected with glasses, the Bambino Gesù notes. Whether and when to move to contact lenses is for the eye doctor to decide.

How often should they be replaced? When the prescription changes, or when your child grows and the frame becomes too small. The eye doctor sets the check-ups; we can check the fit at any time.

To sum up

• Eye checks start in the first year: follow your paediatrician and eye doctor.
• Under 3, children rarely say they can't see well, so watch for the signs.
• For the youngest, soft rubber and a strap; later, acetate with flexible hinges.
• Let your child choose: it's the best way to make sure they wear them.

Browse our full children's eyewear collection, or come and see us in Brescia.

The eye-health information in this article is general and doesn't replace a visit to the eye doctor or your paediatrician's advice.