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Post by refugeepea on Jun 15, 2016 22:49:09 GMT
How did you convince them to wear them? My son needs them, but he's cognitively at a 2 year old level in many areas. He does not talk.
The optometrist suggested getting cheap reader glasses at the dollar store and work on getting him used to those before we get the real things. He said not getting them may cause an issue with headaches if he is constantly looking at things up close, which he does in order to stay focused.
Any suggestions? Any luck with eye glass bands?
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Post by twinks on Jun 15, 2016 23:08:28 GMT
My DD had glasses beginning at 18 months. I don't know how old your DS is but now they have great glasses for small kids. I believe that the glasses come with the band and they are made of plastic. Google could be your friend.
Actually I had no problem with my DD. Back then (28 years ago) I just got the wrap temples that went around her ears. I was all prepared with M&M's in my pocket to give to her and praise her wearing her glasses. I picked them up, brought them home and put them on her and she looked at me and grinned and that was that. Never bothered them at all.
Personally I would not do the drugstore glasses thing. They are not made for children, not the right prescription and would be something that the child would just take off. They would bother me.
BTW, my father was an ophthalmologist and he had a number of young patients. That is why I was prepared with the M&M's in my pocket.
ETA: I don't know how to link or post pictures, but, I googled toddler eye glasses and under the images there are the frames that I am talking about. The pictures had the name ENZO on it and they are screwless glasses frames with the cord. Again, it depends on the age of your child.
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Post by refugeepea on Jun 15, 2016 23:16:32 GMT
I don't know how old your DS is but now they have great glasses for small kids. I believe that the glasses come with the band and they are made of plastic. He's almost 8 and tall for his age. He likes to throw things. The doctor said he is okay without them for now. It isn't necessarily for the right prescription, just getting him used to wearing them. I think he was having headaches toward the end of the school year. I'd like him to be able to wear them all day by the time school starts. I hope he can wear the glasses with the prescription. I did give him a few smarties throughout the appointment (he surprisingly did awesome!). ETA: I know I could google, but he's a bigger sized kid at a much younger level. |
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Post by twinks on Jun 15, 2016 23:26:48 GMT
Oh then the toddle frames that I saw won't work for you. I also googled glasses for children and there are so many nice looking alternatives. Go lightweight and make sure they fit on the nose and the ears. Just be prepared for a ton of reinforcement and positive praise. Like maybe have him wear them while watching his favorite movie. You sit by him and just keep pointing out how great he is at wearing his glasses and how he can see things better. Take him for a walk and point out the leaves on the trees, the flowers, etc. all the time praising and reinforcing.
I might just go ahead and get a band to use from the beginning.
Also, if you or anyone in your immediate family wear glasses, just make a point of saying, "Hey, let's all get our glasses on and....." Make it a part of your everyday life.
I hope you get the surprise and the shock I had when I put my DD's glasses on for the first time.
Life with our children is not always the easiest. It is funny the things we have to think about sometimes. Hugs to you and good luck.
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Post by mrssmith on Jun 15, 2016 23:32:08 GMT
My daughter got glasses at age 2.5, but I and most of my family wear glasses, so she didn't have an issue wearing them.
My friend's son has sport glasses which may be sturdier. I like the idea of wearing them while watching a movie.
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AllieC
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Post by AllieC on Jun 15, 2016 23:32:12 GMT
I don't think the drugstore glasses thing is a good idea either. He won't be able to see properly with them and if you progress to proper glasses he might think they are the same and not want to wear them.
My granddaughter got them when she was 3 and they didn't have a great deal of problems getting her to wear them. She is a stubborn kid so I was surprised. I think she realised just how clear everything was and just got used to them. She also was able to pick out her glasses so got some very out there pink and purple sparkly ones but she loved them so it made it easier.
Good luck with it.
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Post by emelle64 on Jun 15, 2016 23:38:05 GMT
My daughter was 4 when she started to wear glasses. We let her pick the frames herself which I think helped. I think it also helped that suddenly she was seeing better than she had been. We also adopted a very strict attitude and warned her that if she took them off she would be disciplined. I know ultimately we were lucky that she didn't give us much grief about it, because I don't know how we could've made her do it if she really didn't want to do it. Sorry I don't have better ideas.
Emelle
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RosieKat
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Post by RosieKat on Jun 15, 2016 23:38:36 GMT
I might just go ahead and get a band to use from the beginning. Also, if you or anyone in your immediate family wear glasses, just make a point of saying, "Hey, let's all get our glasses on and....." Make it a part of your everyday life. That's how I've gotten my kids to take medicine (that's very necessary for their well-being). We just all do it together, and it makes it more "normal." So I totally agree with this if this is an option for you. And I'll keep my fingers crossed that maybe he's so delighted by seeing the world right that it isn't an issue.  |
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Post by refugeepea on Jun 16, 2016 0:10:53 GMT
I think this is going to be even tougher than I thought. He does not watch TV. Oh, how I would LOVE for this to happen. He does like some apps on the ipad while he rocks in the recliner, so I'll try praising him while he does that. He is NOT attached to anything except balls, a stack of cups, and the ipad. Picking glasses won't help. They could be girly and he would not care less. I wear glasses and I'll try that approach. I think he'll just look at me like I don't give a damn you wear them!  |
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Post by MichyM on Jun 16, 2016 0:27:19 GMT
My son (now 26) started wearing glasses at 15 months. I was concerned that he wouldn't keep them on, but it was never a problem. He wasn't bothered by them, and they improved his vision so much that maybe that was part of the reason why. We also rarely had problems with him breaking them, my advice with that is to buy the best you can afford. The frames and hinges are so much better now that when I wore glasses as a kid. Mine were always breaking!
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Post by polz on Jun 16, 2016 0:35:27 GMT
My DD was four. It was a non-issue. You will brush your teeth. You will eat vegetables. You will wear your glasses etc.
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scrappinwithoutpeas
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Post by scrappinwithoutpeas on Jun 16, 2016 0:48:36 GMT
DS started wearing glasses when he was 6 months old. He had the kind that wrap around the ear, and he could see so much better when he wore them that there wasn't really an issue with him keeping them on. The only time we had that issue was when he was learning to walk and would get frustrated and knock them off his face. We'd just gently put them back on after a couple of minutes without comment and he eventually grew out of it. If your son can't get the type that wrap around the ear (which may only be made for infants & toddlers), I would suggest the type with a band (like sports glasses) like some other peas suggested.
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Post by refugeepea on Jun 16, 2016 0:53:43 GMT
My DD was four. It was a non-issue. You will brush your teeth. You will eat vegetables. You will wear your glasses etc. That's why I'm asking for ideas. It is an issue. He's almost 8 but cognitively a 2 year old on many levels (Autism). |
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pridemom
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Post by pridemom on Jun 16, 2016 3:01:25 GMT
I got my first glasses around my first birthday. I loved them so much that I would not let my mom remove them. She had to wait until I went to sleep. I was finally able to see and wouldn't take them off.
Now they have toddler glasses that hold up to toddler abuse.
I read the post that your child is older. I would get sports glasses like another pea recommended. They're tough enough to withstand abuse.
Walmart used to offer replacement with their warranty. And they have the flexion frames.
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Post by lindywholoveskids on Jun 16, 2016 5:44:26 GMT
our grandson's first glasses were when he was younger than 4. He didn't want to wear them, and they gradually got him used to them by having him wear them when he was listening to stories or tv. His tv is limited now.
His have the elastic band with them, and they do slip once in a while.
He loves his glasses! However, his lazy eye is not improved by them, he now wears an eye patch at least an hr a day. Dr prescribed tv!! His school highly discourages screen time but since the dr prescribed it, it's ok with the teacher!!
He looks darling in them! first pair was round (Harry Potter type) ..his new pair is more square, but still great looking.
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smginaz Suzy
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Jun 26, 2014 17:27:30 GMT
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Post by smginaz Suzy on Jun 16, 2016 6:15:29 GMT
Oh gosh, I wish I had an answer! Like others here, I was so thrilled with the vision (I got mine when I was 8), no one was taking them off me.
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CeeScraps
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Post by CeeScraps on Jun 16, 2016 9:26:42 GMT
DD started with glasses when she was 3.
When we went to get them she chose them. Have your son pick them out. That will help him want to wear them.
I'm not sure about the drugstore glasses as they won't improve his vision like he needs.
Oh, does he wear sunglasses? DD loved wearing those.
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Post by Kymberlee on Jun 16, 2016 11:19:20 GMT
As a teacher for the visually impaired, I get this question all the time. Here is my question...what do the glasses do for him? It is notoriously difficult to get a good acuity on young children especially those that are not typical. Do you think the glasses help him? In some cases, the glasses might be the exact right prescription yet the kids still won't wear them, and I think it is because they can finally see their environment and their brains just have difficulty processing the huge amount of visual information that is being taken in that wasn't there before the glasses. Does that make sense?
Also, another reason that he *might* get close to materials is that it helps him focus on the materials right in front of him. In other words, he is getting close to materials not to see it better but to filter out the other extraneous environmental distractions that are in his field of vision. He is making his field of vision smaller so he only sees what he is interested in seeing.
As far as getting him to wear his glasses? I guess answering the questions above might help in making the decision if it is worthwhile spending the money and fighting with your kiddo to wear glasses that might or might not help.
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Post by refugeepea on Jun 16, 2016 16:13:01 GMT
As a teacher for the visually impaired, I get this question all the time. Here is my question... what do the glasses do for him? It is notoriously difficult to get a good acuity on young children especially those that are not typical. Do you think the glasses help him? In some cases, the glasses might be the exact right prescription yet the kids still won't wear them, and I think it is because they can finally see their environment and their brains just have difficulty processing the huge amount of visual information that is being taken in that wasn't there before the glasses. Does that make sense? Also, another reason that he *might* get close to materials is that it helps him focus on the materials right in front of him. In other words, he is getting close to materials not to see it better but to filter out the other extraneous environmental distractions that are in his field of vision. He is making his field of vision smaller so he only sees what he is interested in seeing. As far as getting him to wear his glasses? I guess answering the questions above might help in making the decision if it is worthwhile spending the money and fighting with your kiddo to wear glasses that might or might not help. I believe he needs them because towards the end of the year, his teacher felt he was getting headaches and this was usually at the end of the school day. The eye doctor told me he is far sighted and one of the issues that may occur by NOT wearing the eye glasses (because it is not severe) is headaches. The cause of them can be if he looks at things up close often; which he does in order to focus (Autism). That's why he suggested getting the cheap dollar store glasses. Not as a permanent solution; to get him used to wearing them. I'm aware this is a process, as with anything he does. Like our wait program; waiting seconds and then minutes for what he wants. I want to state again, he could not care less about things. Picking out a pair would be meaningless. He currently has a Disney Princess robe because it was on clearance for $5.00. |
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julieb
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Post by julieb on Jun 16, 2016 17:27:37 GMT
I don't know how old your DS is but now they have great glasses for small kids. I believe that the glasses come with the band and they are made of plastic. He's almost 8 and tall for his age. He likes to throw things. The doctor said he is okay without them for now. It isn't necessarily for the right prescription, just getting him used to wearing them. I think he was having headaches toward the end of the school year. I'd like him to be able to wear them all day by the time school starts. I hope he can wear the glasses with the prescription. I did give him a few smarties throughout the appointment (he surprisingly did awesome!). ETA: I know I could google, but he's a bigger sized kid at a much younger level. Ugh. My oldest ds got glasses at age 2 1/2 for strabismus. It was torture, along with the patch. I did chuckle when you said he likes to throw things. One time when ds told me he threw his glasses on the roof of the house. I went and got a ladder and looked. They were sitting next to the swingset. Whatever you do, get insurance on them.  I did try the elastic strap, but he didn't like it one bit. Maybe something that looks like a sports pair? The boy next door (he's 13) has a pair that was a cross between regular glasses and sports glasses. He loves them. |
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Post by twinks on Jun 16, 2016 17:42:08 GMT
Oh refugeepea, I agree, this is a big worry. I do feel for you and understand your concern. I do know what it is like to introduce new things and worry about how you are going to do it and especially how your child is going to adjust. You have to do everything differently. My DD is neurologically compromised and there are sometimes it gets quite intense. You are doing the right thing. Headaches are no fun and just another variable that doesn't help. Just an FYI, my DD is very far sighted and wears her glasses all the time. She still holds things up very close. It is part of her severe visual perceptual/spatial issues along with her reducing the visual stimuli so she can see. To me, if you go the route that he needs them to see, but, he doesn't need them for desk work and take them off, then you are adding more variables than just learning to wear them all the time. Why not try some sunglasses (no prescription) for when you take your DS outside? Then use the prescription glasses for ipad time and other activities such as that? Is your son attending Summer school? If so, have the school put them on him when he is doing desk work. Again, these are just suggestions. Like everything else in our children's lives, it is trial and error until you find out what works. Unfortunately, the next day it may not work so you are back to the drawing board. We parents should get an award for being the most creative and flexible people |
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Post by refugeepea on Jun 16, 2016 17:45:13 GMT
Why not try some sunglasses (no prescription) for when you take your DS outside? Then use the prescription glasses for ipad time and other activities such as that? Is your son attending Summer school? If so, have the school put them on him when he is doing desk work. Again, these are just suggestions. Like everything else in our children's lives, it is trial and error until you find out what works. Unfortunately, the next day it may not work so you are back to the drawing board. We parents should get an award for being the most creative and flexible people  Thank you for your suggestions! He did keep the paper sunglasses on the optometrist got him for a couple of minutes. I'm texting his teacher today about the glasses, he's doing summer school. |
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Post by Scrappea on Jun 16, 2016 21:27:08 GMT
What if you got some cheap frames for sunglasses that are similar to what his frames will be and pop out the lenses? That would at least get him used to having them on his face. As far as getting him to keep him on? How do you get him to do other things that he may not want to do? Try a similar approach.
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Peamac
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Post by Peamac on Jun 16, 2016 22:21:25 GMT
He might enjoy wearing them once he realizes how much better he can see his favorite things. Throwing and catching a ball will be more enjoyable for him. Even playing games on an iPad will be easier.
He might get interested in other things once he can see better.
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Post by stacmac on Jun 17, 2016 0:15:04 GMT
My daughter has had glasses since age 2. we didn't have a big problem getting her to wear them, I think because she liked being able to see more with them on! I know it doesn't help you but she picked out her own. Then we just constantly reminded her or just put them on her face. She did take them off a lot, every time she cried for example.
I'm sorry I didn't read all the other posts but is it definitely his eyes giving him headaches? I just ask because since starting school, DD often gets tension headaches and they come on throughout the afternoon. They're not related to her glasses/eyesight according to the opthalmologist and orthoptist. However when she first started getting them I thought they could be because of the location and time that she gets them.
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Post by melanell on Jun 17, 2016 0:37:51 GMT
I haven't read all of the replies (sorry!), but what about buying frames specifically meant for children to wear while participating in sports?
We bought some for my son that were a flexible plastic, very lightweight, and could be used in conjunction with a band if desired to keep them secure.
I realize that your son doesn't need them for sports, but the features sound like something that may still work better for him than traditional metal or harder plastic frames.
Perhaps he will opt to keep them on simply because he will realize that he can see better? Or maybe you can make a fuss about them being a fun, cool thing to have?
Best of luck!
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mvavw
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Jun 25, 2014 20:21:43 GMT
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Post by mvavw on Jun 17, 2016 19:27:56 GMT
I can't speak to how to get him to wear glasses because daughters wanted to wear them because they saw better, but my advice is to get a copy of the prescription and get it filled at Walmart. They are Much less expensive than buying them at the doctor's office and they have a 1 year breakage guarantee. When my first dd got her first pair of glasses, I bought them at the doctor's office for close to $300. I bought a backup pair at Walmart for $30. She ended up liking them better. Lesson learned, lol.
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