Glasses for Long Term Wear and Care
Harris, Blake and Parsons - RINGWOOD, VIC
Once your child has found the perfect pair of glasses the next challenge is to keep them clean and not broken or bent!
1. Practise taking them on and off properly.
Get your child into the habit of using both hands to grip each temple to take glasses on and off. This will prevent uneven wear on the frames and maintain good fit and comfort. If they can avoid touching the lenses too that’s a bonus!
2. Keeping the lenses clean.
Somehow kids always get jam on their lenses even if they haven’t eaten any in weeks. Get in the habit of cleaning the lenses daily (or they can do it themselves if they’re old enough!) so your child can see as clearly as possible. Harris Blake & Parsons Optometrists provide a lens cleaning kit containing a cleaning spray and microfibre cloth. Spray each side of the lenses and gently rub away any obvious dirt, as particles cause scratches, then use the microfibre cloth to polish the lenses. For heavy duty cleaning, dip glasses in warm water with mild dishwashing liquid, gently rub lenses and frames with your fingers, then rinse off with water and polish with a microfibre cloth.
It’s tempting due to convenience, but try to avoid tissues, paper towel or clothing to wipe the lenses, as the rougher material may scratch them. It can be useful to have a few microfibre cloths in different locations, and when they’re looking dirty just clean them in the washing machine.
3. On your face or in the case.
Encourage glasses to be stored in their case whenever they are not in use to keep them protected from dirt or from being trampled or sat on.
If your child needs full time spectacle wear and is very physically active then adding a headband, or using the band included with Tomato Glasses, will help keep them secure.
4. Have a spare pair.
Dog chewed on them? Left them on top of the car and driven away? Despite everyone’s best efforts sometimes accidents just happen! Whether you need to wait for a whole new replacement pair or have parts or lenses that need to be ordered, it’s always useful to have a backup pair just in case.
Written by Amy Chan (Optometrist)