My three-year-old son just got glasses. I pitched this blog to our editor thinking “oh I can write a great, informative blog about what to do when a toddler gets glasses. It will be very helpful to other parents.”
HAHAHAHA.
The truth is this is a lot harder than I expected. I don’t wear glasses, neither does his father, and I didn’t really know “how to get glasses.” We’re currently navigating the “adjustment period,” trying new ways to get him to keep the glasses on.
Noticing the signs. I noticed my son’s right eye crossing before Christmas. At first it just happened when he was tired or when he was playing with toys or reading up close, but it became worse after a couple weeks. He was also holding books and toys up very close to his face. At first I thought it was to get a good look, then I realized he simply couldn’t see it that well. I called his pediatrician, who referred us to several different specialists. After multiple calls, I found an ophthalmologist who was available sooner than later and who also took my insurance.
The Exam. The doctor did a full eye exam and proclaimed that my son was severely farsighted, and he needed glasses. “He was born this way and has always needed them, but you’re noticing this now because this is the age where kids are focusing on more things, so parents notice when their eyes can’t focus. The eye crosses because it can’t focus. He needs glasses.”
Picking the Glasses
“Let him choose his own!” “Make a big deal about picking them out!” “Tell him he’s a super hero.” All wonderful advice from family and friends. I left my son choose his own. We went to a big box store because a) it was covered by my insurance and b) it was easier. Big mistake.
The smallest size glasses they had there were XS for kids. He picked out a pair of cool blue and green Oakleys. They looked OK but they seemed to a smidge too big. I asked the technician if they were too big and she assured me that “no, they’re actually just right because he will keep growing.” I believed her. In hindsight I shouldn’t have. We ordered them, and the glasses and frames were ready four days later.
Getting them Home
The first night we picked them up, he LOVED them. They were his Spiderman glasses (they look nothing like Spidey), and he was proud to wear them everywhere. The next day, not so much. The idea that these things would be permanent — “wear them all waking hours” was what his prescription instructions said — was not going over so well.
The big test was school. Would he wear them at school? All day long?
School
We walked into school and he was not going to put on his glasses. “Show them your cool glasses, buddy,” I said. “No! I don’t want to wear them!” We were just inside lobby area and already this was going to be a battle. Until we saw one of his teachers. Miss Holly came out and said “I love those glasses! I’ll wear mine too! Can you put yours on? They seem like superhero glasses!” Hearing that word set my son off, but in a good way. “No, Mommy!” he yelled. “They’re NOT superhero glasses, they’re SPIDERMAN glasses. I want to put them on!” YESSSSSSS!
I put on his glasses, and he walked in his classroom so proud of himself. Everyone was excited to see them, and they made a big deal out of the glasses, which was what my son needed. He needed people to be happy to see him in those glasses. He fed off that good energy.
What’s Next?
That first day went really well (shout out to his amazing and PATIENT teachers), but honestly it’s been up and down in the two weeks since. Some days he’s happy to put them on by himself, and he actually appreciates the better vision. But the frames are just too big, and he doesn’t like the fact that he has to keep pushing them off as they slide down his nose while playing. I give him Skittles to keep them on, and while it’s probably not the greatest idea, it works. So I’m staying with the Skittles.
We actually have another appointment in a few days to get a smaller, more durable pair designed for little kids, who are basically walking tornadoes. It stinks having to pay for another pair, but the plan is to get him the new ones that fit better, and keep the current ones as a spare or when his head starts to grow again. This whole thing is a lot tougher than I thought, but it’s also a learning process and that’s what all of parenting is, right?
I’m 41 & feel the same way about my glasses. I deeply appreciate the idea of them, but they’re really freaking annoying. So are contacts. So is the idea of shooting lasers at my eyes, which I’ve always been very specifically told not to do. I totally feel him.