My child needs glasses!

There are quite a few things you should look for when getting that first pair of glasses. Here are my suggestions:

Some type of warranty on the frames/lenses - Kids tend to break glasses a lot in the first year. It will be very expensive if you have to pay full price every time. (If the glasses break, make sure you keep ALL the pieces. Otherwise, the store might decide the breakage is not covered under the warranty.)

Polycarbonate lenses - These are a type of plastic that is very resistant to breaking. (It is the same plastic used to make bullet proof glass.) Perfect for the rough life of a young child.

Let the child pick the frames - They will wear them if they like them. There are lots of popular brands, like Disney and Barbie, so they might be able to get a frame with the name of their favorite tv/movie character.

Spring Hinges -- Although not required, spring hinges can be a nice feature. These special hinges allow the temples to flex outward (more open), away from the frames. I know my daughter pulled the glasses open too much when she was learning to put them on. She didn't have spring hinges, so she ripped the sides right off.

Temple style - There are two major types: Regular (skull), which is what you see with most glasses, and Cable Temple style. The cable temple style is made to wrap around the ear, to prevent the glasses from slipping and falling off. These are good for toddlers. Babies might an eyeglass strap (it goes around their head) to hold the glasses on.

Bridge fit - With kids it is hard to get a good fit around the nose. (Their nose isn't fully developed yet.) Look for adjustable nose pads that can be adjusted for a close (but not too tight) fit on the nose. Without this, the glasses sometimes slip down the nose.

Frames - plastic or metal - Both are good. Some metal frames are made so they can not break and bounce back after bending. Plastic frames are also very durable. If you have any allergies to metals, you might want to ask about hypoallergenic materials.

Hard shell case - I know that some of the cases that come with the new eyeglasses are cute, but unless they have a hard outside, they are not very sturdy. You will want something that can take the bangs and dings your child will inflict on it.

Discounts - I have found much better discounts than those that come with some health insurances. Some stores have coupons in the Sunday newspaper. Others have specials that are on their website. Also, some have AAA discounts, so bring your card if you are a member. Check for any of these before you go to the store.

When your child has down syndrome finding eyeglass frames can be very hard. Those with downs have different facial features (like smaller noses) that can make getting regular frames to fit almost impossible. But, Maria Dellapina decided to design frames that would fit well.

The above picture can show how dramatic the fit difference can be.

You can check out the frames here: Erin's World

I have discovered that there are a few things that are good to carry around when your child has glasses.

1. Hard glasses case. This way you can hold your child's glasses safely.

2. Cleaning cloth, The glasses will get dirty. It could be food, mud, or just fingerprints.

3. Sandwich bag. If the glasses get broken, you will need to keep every piece so they will be still covered under most eyeglass frame insurance. A sandwich bag can keep all the pieces safe until you get to the frame store.

4. A small (eyeglass) screwdriver. My daughter's eyeglass frame screws constantly loosen and need to be tightened. (Especially when they loosen enough that the lens falls out.)