Ask the Expert: Picking the Perfect Pair

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Many experts believe 80 percent of learning is done through a child's eyes. Because your child's vision is so important to their development picking the right glasses is essential. But if you don't know what you're looking for, selecting the best pair for your child out of hundreds of options can be a daunting task.

"As a mom, I know how hard it can be to convince your child they need to wear glasses especially if they are worried about being teased at school. But as an optometrist, I can assure you there are a variety of 'cool' options that will make your child feel comfortable and confident while also allowing them to see the chalkboard at school," said Dr. Leslie Gunderson, an optometrist from the Dr. Mark Lynn & Associates PLLC group at Doctor's ValuVision.

Dr. Gunderson has compiled some helpful tips for you to keep in mind when you are standing in front of the wall of eyeglasses. These tips will help you find a pair your child will love that will also last longer than the car ride home.

• Picking out the "cool" pair – We definitely don't want our children to get teased on the playgrounds for wearing glasses.  Allowing your child to help pick out their glasses will ensure you don't pick a pair that aren't "cool" while also allowing your child to feel more confident about wearing glasses.  Extra enticement may be found in ultra cool features like photochromic lenses with tints that darken outdoors, which may help inspire any child to want to wear glasses. Many manufacturers copy adult styles when designing children's frames. Children may be attracted to these styles because they are more grown-up. It's not unusual for kids to ask for glasses that look just like Mom's or Dad's.

• Plastic vs. Metal – All children's frames are made of either plastic or metal. Double bridges are found on all boys' frames, while single bridges are unisex. Plastic eyeglasses used to be considered the better choice for children because they are durable, less likely to be bent or broken, lighter and usually less expensive. But now manufacturers are now producing metal frames that incorporate these same features.

• Make sure the Bridge Fits – One of the toughest parts about choosing frames for your kids is that their noses are not fully developed and changing on a daily basis. Most children do not have a bridge to prevent plastic frames from sliding down their faces. Metal frames, however, are usually made with adjustable nose pads, so they can fit anyone's bridge. Evaluate each pair your kids try on to make sure there are not any gaps between the frame and the bridge of the nose. It is important that your child's glasses stay in place, because kids tend to look right over the tops of the lenses instead of fixing their slipping glasses. Children are constantly running and jumping around so their glasses need to stay put so they can serve their purpose.

• Spring Hinges - A nice feature to look for is glasses with spring hinges. Spring hinges can be a worthwhile investment on children's eyewear. Kids are not always careful when they put on and take off glasses, and the spring hinges can help prevent the need for frequent adjustments and costly repairs. They also come in handy if the child falls asleep with the glasses on or just has a rough day at play. Spring hinges are strongly recommended for toddlers, who sometimes get carried away playing with their new glasses.

• Lens Durability - Once you and your child agree on frames that you both like, the next consideration is the lenses. Children's lenses should be made of polycarbonate or a new material called Trivex, because they are the most impact-resistant material around. In addition to being the safest materials, they also are lighter in weight than regular plastic lenses, a nice advantage for strong prescriptions. Polycarbonate and Trivex have built-in protection against potentially damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays, and the lenses are scratch-resistant coated by the manufacturer or fabrication lab.

• The Backup Plan – We all know that accidents happen and usually at the worst possible time. Because of this you may want to purchase a backup pair of glasses, in case something happens to the primary pair and they are out of commission while being repaired. Having an inexpensive backup pair is more convenient then having to go back to the store to purchase a new pair.

About Dr. Mark Lynn and Associates PLLC

Dr. Mark Lynn & Associates PLLC, or Mark Lynn O.D. & Associates PC, owns and/or operates more than 45 Dr. Bizer's Vision World, Doctor's VisionWorks and Doctor's ValuVision offices in Kentucky, Georgia, Tennessee and Indiana. Offering high-quality designer and exclusive brand frames, lenses, contact lenses, accessories, sunglasses and the leading technology in vision correction at competitive prices. In addition, nearly all our stores provide one-hour service on most prescriptions by utilizing on-site processing laboratories. For more information visit, www.drbizersvisionworld.com or www.drbizersvaluvision.com.

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SOURCE Dr. Mark Lynn & Associates PLLC