Your Child's First Glasses

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Glasses help children see clearly, learn well and develop normal vision in both eyes. For children with a squint or lazy eye, glasses are part of the treatment itself, so wearing them every day matters.

Why children need glasses

• Short sight (myopia): blurred distance vision, seeing the board; becoming more common with screens and less time outdoors.
• Long sight (hypermetropia): strain with close work, and sometimes an inward squint.
• Astigmatism: blur at all distances.
• Lazy eye or squint: glasses are the first treatment.

Choosing frames and lenses

• Polycarbonate or Trivex lenses: lighter and much safer than glass.
• Frames that sit level, with the eyes centred in the lenses; flexible hinges for active children.
• For toddlers, soft frames with a strap or curl-around ear pieces.
• Lenses big enough that the child cannot look over the top.
• Ask about myopia-control lenses if short sight is increasing: see understanding myopia and atropine for myopia.

Helping your child wear them

• Put them on first thing in the morning as part of dressing.
• Praise and reward, and let your child choose the frame colour.
• Tell the teacher; ask for a seat near the board if needed.
• If your child keeps pushing them away or complains of headaches after 2 weeks, come back for a check: the fit or prescription may need adjusting.

Care

• Clean with water and a microfibre cloth; avoid paper tissues.
• Keep them in a hard case when not worn.
• Recheck the prescription every year, or every 6 months if myopia is increasing.

Frequently asked questions

Related: When Should My Child Have an Eye Test? Age-by-Age Guide, Paediatric Eye Checkup Ahmedabad, How to Read Your Glasses Prescription: SPH, CYL, AXIS, ADD.

This leaflet gives general information and does not replace advice from your own eye doctor. Reviewed by Dr. Dhaval Patel, MD (Ophthalmology, AIIMS New Delhi), November 2026.