Helping Kids Adjust to New Glasses

Once you’ve finished the task of finding the right pair of eyeglasses for your child, it’s time to help them adjust. For kids that are not used to wearing prescription glasses, it could feel weird to see the world from a new perspective. For kids that have been wearing different glasses, they may need to adapt to the new prescription or frame type. Either way it could take some time, so don’t fret. Be aware of the common symptoms, and follow these steps to help your kid get used to their new pair of eyeglasses.

Common Symptoms with Adjusting to New Glasses

Your child may experience one or more of the following symptoms when wearing new glasses:

It can take up to two weeks for your child to adjust to new glasses. If these symptoms last longer than that, and you have tried the solutions below, go directly to your child’s doctor.

Tips for Adjusting to New Glasses

• Put Glasses on First Thing in the Morning: When your child first wakes up, make sure they put on their new glasses. If they wait and put them later on in the day, their eyes will need to take more time to re-adjust.
• Wear Glasses Continuously: If your child is uncomfortable with the new glasses, they may want to take them off, even for little breaks at a time. Reiterate to them how important it is to keep the new glasses on throughout the entire day in order for them to properly get adjusted.
• Don’t Switch Between Glasses: After getting new glasses, they might get the urge to go back to their old ones. This will confuse their eyes even more and make the process take longer. Even though those might feel more comfortable, the prescription has changed for a reason and the new glasses will ultimately be better than the old pair after this transition period.
• Adjust Glasses: Prescription lenses are made to be aligned with the center of the pupil. If the glasses are slipping, then your child could be looking through the wrong part of the lens. The proportions would be distorted and that could be the main reason it is uncomfortable for them. You could try adjusting the glasses yourself for a better fit.
• Add a Strap: If adjusting the glasses doesn’t work, try adding a strap to hold the glasses firmly in place.

Don’t automatically assume the new glasses have the wrong prescription if your kid is uncomfortable. This transition period is normal and will take some time.