If you are a parent, you probably know that walking into an optician can be a little confusing. There may be lots of children’s eyeglass frames to choose from, but that’s the problem — how do you figure out which ones: a) your child is willing to wear and b) will last longer than the car ride home?

Depending on the degree of visual correction necessary, an eye doctor will prescribe glasses for full — or part-time wear. Some children will be instructed to wear glasses just for school, while others need to wear them every waking moment.

Sometimes an optometrist will make specific recommendations about suitable eyeglass frames, but often that decision is left up to the parents, the child and the optical dispenser who fits the glasses.

The Mid-Ocean News met with Dr. Royland Samms from Atlantic Vision Care who came up with a list of things to consider to make your trip to the optometrist as painless as possible, and to ensure that you get children’s glasses that will last a long time.

[bul] Lens thickness: “The prescription is always the primary consideration in choosing glasses. Before you start looking for the frames, consult with the optician. If the prescription calls for strong lenses that are likely to be thick, it is important to keep the frames as small as possible in order to eliminate any unnecessary edge thickness. The optician can give you a good idea of how thick the lenses will be and can recommend suitable frames to make thick lenses appear thinner.”

[bul] Fashion forward: “Whether they are full-or-part-time eyeglass wearers, most children get at least a little teasing about their specs, especially the first time they wear them. But thanks to Harry Potter, there is less of a stigma in wearing glasses and one way to help make your child more comfortable is to allow them to choose their own frames — within limits. Keep in mind that the real object is to get them to wear the glasses.”

[bul] Plastic vs. metal: “Children’s frames are made of either plastic or metal (also known as ‘wire’). Double bridges are found on boy’s frames, while frames with single bridges are either unisex or strictly for girls. A lot of manufacturers copy adult styles for children’s frames. Children like these styles the most because they are more grown-up. In the past, plastic eyeglasses were a better choice for children because they were considered more durable, but now manufacturers are making metal frames that incorporate these features as well. Ask your optician which one is best for your child, based on his or her experience in different alloys. Also ask for hypoallergenic materials if your child shows sensitivity to certain substances.”

[bul] Proper bridge fit: “Since a child’s nose is not yet fully developed, they don’t have a bridge to prevent plastic frames from sliding down. Metal frames, however, are usually made with adjustable nose pads, so they fit almost everyone’s bridge. If there are gaps between the bridge of the frame and the bridge of the nose, the weight of the lenses will cause the glasses to slide, no matter how well the frame seems to fit before the lenses are made. It is important that glasses stay in place, because children have the tendency to look right over the tops of the lenses instead of pushing slipped glasses back up where they belong. Ask your optician if you are in doubt.”

[bul] The right temple style: “Temples that wrap all the way around the back of the ear are helpful in making sure that the glasses don’t slide down or drop off. There wraparound temples are called ‘cable temples’ and are generally available on metal frames and especially helpful to keep glasses in place on toddlers. However, cable temples are not a good choice for part-time eyeglass wearers as they are a bit more awkward to put on and take off.”

[bul] Spring hinges: “A nice feature to look for is temples with spring hinges. These special hinges allow the temples to flex outward, away from the frames, without causing any damage. Although they might cost a bit more, spring hinges can be a worthwhile investment on children’s eyewear.”

Dr. Samms advises that the current standard of care recommends polycarbonate lenses for children as they are the most impact-resistant, UV protective (100 per cent) and lightweight. While memory metals, like the Flexon Brand are the ultimate in durability and hypoallergenic.