Glasses for 2 year old?

cord123

Hello all,

My 2 year old has been wearing glasses for about 6 months and has already broken 2 pairs.... the hospital wont give us a voucher for spares so it means that he has to go without a pair for over a month while we wait for another voucher.

Please dont say that he is 2 and should look after them after all he is 2! The first pair got broken after a littl'un pulled them off him at nursery and the second got broken after he pulled them off while he was throwing a tantrum!.... They just dont seem to be built with young children in mind.... We have gone to specsavers and an independant opticians but both glasses arent as robust as I would have thought they should be! He is a lot better with them but obviously is still getting used to them....

Basically, my question is, where is the best place to get glasses for toddlers and is there anywhere that does offers on spares instead of charging £60 odd?

Thanks in advance

Richie-from-the-Boro

Look for memory metal / or / indestructible prescription glasses.

Kids being kids .. .. even the most indestructible frames can be broken.

- titanium
- spring side hinges
- PC material lens - military grade / expensive

Gorgeestwo

Both my children have worn glasses from a similar age to your lo, we're very lucky that because of the nature of their sight problems the hosp will pay for a spare pair of glasses, up until recently we've got their glasses from the independant optician recommended by the hospitial, but we've had a couple of pairs from vision express and I was pleasntly surprised at how good they were, so maybe see what sort of frames they do for younger children (my two are 6 and nearly 5 now)
I'm sure that when my two were younger there were some great frames around that would bend in lots of different directions, so maybe see if they still do this sort of frame and whether they'd be suitable for the type of lenses your son needs. (they weren't suitable for the lenses my children need so I haven't tried them)
I wouldn't be happy about having to wait over a month for new glasses, we've never had to wait more than a week.
Good luck, I know how tricky it can be

cord123

thank you!
This hospital is useless! Well that is unfair... he has 10% vision in one eye and a pescription on his other and they said taht he needs glasses but due to hospital budgets they are unable to give him a spare pair.

Thanks for the help, I will have a look. I know the bendy glasses you are talking about but cant seem to find them anywhere! x

Elle7

My local specsavers has a collection of glasses with an elasticated bit that hold them on to your head. My little sister had some when she was around 2, because they fell off a lot, and we just hid the strap under her hair. Would he wear something like that?

Otherwise, I'd phone round a few places and explain the problem. Different places may offer different solutions, and you can pick the one that suits him both.

It seems really unfair they won't give him a spare pair!

nedmundo

I'd have thought that any practice should be able to issue an NHS repair voucher without too much hassle. TBH - I think you'll struggle to find memory metal frames to fit a 2 year old.

sunnyone

My mum used to fasten my specks to my head with ribbons when I was 18 months old, nothing that the optician could supply would work but that was 40 years ago

I thought that repairs were free when you chose certain frames?

Specsavers offer a second pair at half the price (voucher price if you chose not to top up the voucher so £30 or so but we pay more for more robust frames) on kids glasses, I buy my son 2 pairs each time because as kids they will break them, accidents will happen and kids are wilful too, they will throw them down in temper.

Have a look at speckyfoureyes etc. on line to see if they do toddler frames but the problem is you need constant adjustments when they are so small and opticians will only do free adjustments on their own frames.

kingfisherblue

Specsavers in St. Helens replace glasses for children as often as necessary - my son has worn glasses since he was three and has often lost or broken them.

niandsa

Vision Express used to offer a free second pair for children. We have done this several times. Why not give your local branch a ring?

GlasweJen

Hospitals are no longer allowed to issue spare vouchers. You can have as many repairs as needed but if the presription is complex it can take a while to get the glasses in.

You can apply to your local pct for discretionary help towards a second pair but they refuse most applictions. Your best either getting soex from vision express who give you 2 pairs with a voucher or buying a private pair and using them as back up.

snookey

Elastic around arms may be a good solution.