10 Tips for Buying Kids' Eyewear

If you're a parent in search of the right pair of eyeglasses for your child, you probably know that walking into an optical store can be confusing.

There is no shortage of children's eyeglasses. The problem is figuring out which glasses your child will be willing to wear — and will they last longer than the ride home?

Here are 10 shopping tips to help you choose glasses your child will love and that will be stylish and durable.

1. How thick will the lenses be?

The eyeglass prescription is always the primary consideration in choosing glasses. Before you start looking for the frames, consult with your eye doctor or optician about your child's lenses.

If the prescription calls for strong lenses that are likely to be thick, avoid large frames that will increase the thickness of the lenses. Also, smaller lenses tend to have fewer higher-order aberrations near the edge of the lens than large lenses of the same material and prescription, so there is less risk of blurred or distorted peripheral vision.

2. Choose a modern, attractive style

Most kids will be self-conscious wearing glasses for the first time. So choose frames that have a modern, attractive style. Also, features like photochromic lenses that darken automatically in sunlight outdoors may help inspire your child to want to wear glasses.