My child does not want to wear his glasses: do you have any tips and tricks?

A child who needs glasses has been accustomed to having to make a visual effort and therefore to force his eyes to see clearly. With the correction made by the glasses, he tends to have blurred vision at first, and therefore does not want to wear the frames. Mariel, student orthoptist at the Jules-Gonin Ophthalmic Hospital, offers tips to help your child accept his glasses.

Put on his corrective glasses as soon as he wakes up 

Have the child wear his glasses as soon as he wakes up, before his bottle and any morning activity. In toddlers, this action will quickly create a habit and avoid causing a difference in vision and this need for accommodation. 

A teddy bear with glasses 

Children attach themselves to and identify with their toys and stuffed animals. Don’t hesitate to support your child in accepting to wear his glasses with one of his favourite toys also wearing glasses. 

The comfort of the frame 

The comfort of the glasses frame is an important part of acceptance. It is advisable to choose a frame that is large enough, especially at the top so that the child does not look over his glasses. Choose a pair of easily adjustable glasses so that they do not hurt the child, are comfortable and do not slip.

Choosing the model of glasses

Going to the optician to choose your child’s new pair of glasses should be fun. There are different spectacle frames with round or rectangular shapes for example. It is sometimes difficult to know how to choose. The optician will then support you in choosing the frames best suited to your child’s features. 

Make people understand the usefulness of glasses

To help children understand why they need to wear glasses, give them a fun way to see the difference between their vision with and without their frames. 

Explain that they are not alone in wearing glasses 

Your child certainly has children or adults around him who wear glasses themselves. Remember to point this out so that he accepts the idea that he is not alone in wearing corrective lenses. 

The various visual health problems

We hope that with these few tips, your child will more easily accept his glasses!

Do you want to learn more about the different visual and ocular defects that require correction? Please do not hesitate to consult our pages on myopia, astigmatism, hyperopia, or amblyopia.