3 1/2 year old prescribed glasses

MissBehaving · 27 October 2006 at 9:16AM

Hi Guys

My DD has just been told that she will need to wear glasses. She is 3 1/2 and I aware that this will be a big change for her initially.

We are trying to make it really special for her and tomorrow we are going to go to Specsavers and chose her glasses. Told her that she is really lucky to wear them etc. :cool:

What I wanted to know is ... Are Specsavers any good with children? I know my DD and she will be wanting to try each and every pair on... probably will change her mind about 10 times before mum and dad put thier foot down and make her chose the ones that mummy likes!

I am just concerned that they will be looking at their watches!!! :whistle:

Also, we have received a prescription from the hospital for them ... do we need to pay?

Any advise or experience with this is greatly appreciated!

going2die_rich · 27 October 2006 at 9:24AM

I think a big branded opticans such as Spec Savers, Vision Express and Boots will be quite use to fussy children so I wouldn't worry about it taking a while.

I'd personally choose Boots from the three above as the other two are set in a very clinical way which I don't think is very child friendly as it's almost like you are in a science lab with all the white and such openess, especially Vision Express. It's fine for adults as the openess makes you feel like you aren't being crowded but I think for children it's a bit more scary than friendly.

Prescriptions allow you to purchase glasses upto a certain value for free but if you want the better glasses, i.e. is the more stylish one's you'll have to pay. I believe the voucher can be used along with the more expensive glasses but as long as you make up the difference. Not 100% certain on that though.

Hope it goes well for your daughter.

going2die_rich · 27 October 2006 at 9:26AM

Sorry forgot to say, have you tried the NHS website for costs towards the glassses? If not have a look, it should contain relevant information for you.

DO_Jo · 27 October 2006 at 1:03PM

Hi

I work in an independent opticians, and see children all the time. The optical voucher covers the cost of the lenses and in most cases, the frame as well. If you want thinner lenses or different frames you can pay the difference. Some children know exactly what frame they are looking for and will settle for nothing less, others will take longer to choose. You should not feel pressured, if your daughter wants to try every pair in the shop, then she should be able to. You don't have to stick with one shop, If you don't find anything on your first visit or are not happy with the service, maybe try somewhere else.

Hope this helps

Jo

MissBehaving · 27 October 2006 at 3:02PM

Thanks guys. You certainly have put me more at ease. I will certainly have a look to see if my boots has a good section for glasses.
Will have a squizz at the NHS website and see what they have to say.

I really appreciate your time with this. Will keep you up to speed!

Savvy_Sue · 28 October 2006 at 12:03AM

Wherever you go, I would also listen to the advice of the optician about what will suit your DD, what should be most comfortable for her, and what will withstand the inevitable mishaps in a small child's life!

mishkanorman · 28 October 2006 at 8:40AM

The price you see on the specs for childrens is the price you pay, the nhs voucher values on the site will confuse you !!!

There is also an nhs voucher for repairs so if your little one breaks her specs (she will

) they will be replaced or repaired depending on whats needed. The best frame to pick is one with sprung hinges, which in most places you have to pay for.

Once you have picked your frame an optician will check the fit and refuse any that arent 100% suitable.

The most important thing is to make it fun, try on some yourself and make it a family day out !

mishka

MissBehaving · 28 October 2006 at 12:57PM

Just want to say thanks to everyone that posted a reply on this thread.

Took DD to town this morning. Went to Specsavers, D&A, Vision Express & Boots. None of them had glasses SMALL enough for her. Although she is 3 1/2 she is actually the size of a 2 1/2 year old (born 12 weeks prem).

Anyways, we went to a independent who sat for over an hour playing with her, trying nearly every childs set on her. We have picked a 'promising' one, but it was BLUE... so they are ordering her pink ones to have a look at.

Oh, and they fall in the price range for NHS ...!!

:j

dora37 · 28 October 2006 at 8:53PM

Just to let you know DS2 (12.5) has worn glasses since just 9 months old. You can imagine how many times they have been changed due to growth and repaired due to being boisterous!

In all that time, despite having to have specially thinned lenses (to avoid the 'milk bottle' look) and always having the style I/he has chosen, we have never had to pay anything towards the glasses.

We were on the last occasion told by the optician (independent), that the next time we would probably have to pay for the thinning, however I think it was because they got the order wrong and they had to pay for the rectification!

So all in all DS2 having glasses has not directly cost anything.

I know your DD is older than my DS2 was, but in the early days (they were hard!) we were told that once he realised that he could actually see far better with them than without them, then life would be much easier....and they were right!

bribri_2 · 25 May 2007 at 12:05PM

Did any of you who have glassess for very young children use a headband or strap to keep them on?

Does anyone know where I can get one? Specsavers, vision express, Boots don't have them.

Ta

ailuro2 · 25 May 2007 at 12:29PM

If the specs are fitted properly then they will stay on themselves- that's what the hooks at the back of the legs are for- much more rounded on kids glasses than on adults, normally.

Get them into the habit of never putting them lens down, putting them to bed at night in their special case etc, good habits will help them last a long time.

3 1/2 year old prescribed glasses

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