Looking after children’s glasses
Children’s glasses take a lot of punishment. A few habits make a big difference to how long they last.
Cleaning
- Rinse lenses under lukewarm water first to wash off grit, then clean with a drop of mild washing-up liquid and dry with a clean microfibre cloth.
- Avoid t-shirts, tissues and paper towels; they can scratch lenses over time.
- Skip household glass cleaners, which can damage coatings.
Storage
Teach kids that glasses go either on their face or in their case, never loose in a bag or face-down on a table. A brightly coloured hard case is easier to spot and harder to crush.
Sports and swimming
Regular glasses aren’t designed for contact sports. Prescription sports goggles with a strap protect both the eyes and the glasses. Prescription swimming goggles are also widely available.
Keep a spare pair
If you can, keep an older pair or an inexpensive spare at home or at school. Breakages always seem to happen the week before a holiday.
Regular check-ups
Children’s eyes change as they grow. Keep up with the check-ups your eye-care professional recommends, and go back sooner if your child starts squinting again or the glasses no longer seem to help.