Does your child need glasses?

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Choosing the right eyewear
If it does turn out that your child needs corrective lenses, the next step is finding the right pair of glasses. Leger recommends taking your time choosing and emphasizes the importance of a getting the proper fit. "You don't want a frame that pinches the ears or nose or weighs down on their face," she says. "They will be reluctant to wear the glasses if they are not comfortable." As for material, she suggests aiming for safety -- "a polycarbonate lens is the toughest material for impact," she says, "and will block UV rays." She adds that you should make sure the frames have a warranty, and check the fit of your child's glasses periodically, as they may need adjusting.

In addition to fit and durability, you need to select a pair of glasses that your child will want to wear. Lambden advises letting kids choose their own eyewear. "The child is way less likely to wear a 'cute' pair that the parents like than one they have picked themselves," she says. Leger adds that positive reinforcement is essential: "We are all thankful for our fictional friend Harry Potter, who became a role model for children needing glasses." However, says Lambden, "in most cases, getting a child to wear glasses can be pretty easy. Once they realize how much clearer and more comfortable their vision is, they often want to keep them on."

What about contacts?
If your child hates wearing glasses and has brought up the idea of contact lenses, you may want to consider it -- if you think they're ready. "The question doesn't have as much to do with age as it has to do with the maturity of the child," says Leger. "Physically, the eyes can tolerate contact lenses at a very young age." The most important factor is that both parent and child are committed to properly handling and caring for contact lenses.

Ensuring that your child can see properly is an essential part of his overall health. By paying attention and taking him to regular checkups, you'll make sure he's enjoying life to the fullest and performing well at school -- after all, according to the Ontario Association of Optometrists, children rely on vision for more than 80 per cent of their learning.

For more information, visit the following websites:
• Alberta Association of Optometrists -- Child Vision Program
• Canadian Association of Optometrists
• New Brunswick Association of Optometrists
• Ontario Association of Optometrists -- Child Vision Section

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