Getting new glasses children (easy read)

Easy read fact sheet on getting new glasses for children. Includes sticker templates to put in your glasses case to help you remember what your glasses are for.

This is an easy read document

Glasses can help children to see clearly

An eye test

Every child should have an eye test at least every year.

An optician

The person who tests your child’s eyes is called an optometrist.

We will call them an optician in this factsheet.

A wheelchair user

After your child's eye test the optician may say your child will need new glasses.

Reading

Your child might need glasses to see things close to them:

  • Reading and writing
Food
  • Eating
A tablet
  • Using a computer, phone or tablet
A television

Your child might need glasses to see things further away:

  • Watching TV
A vision test
  • Watching someone signing
Theatre
  • Going to the cinema or theatre
A wheelchair user
  • Moving around safely
Glasses

Wearing the right glasses will help children see clearly.

Some children need to wear glasses all the time or just sometimes.

A prescription

Your child’s optician will tell you why your child needs glasses.

They will give you a prescription which tells you about your child’s eyesight.

Thumbs up

You can go to any optician to choose your child's glasses.

You need to take your child's prescription and voucher with you to the optician.

A form

We have a form called – ‘The results of your child’s eye test’.

You can ask the optician to fill this form in.

Thumbs up

Your child may need 2 pairs of glasses.

Glasses for seeing things close to them, and glasses for seeing things further away.

Choice of glasses

To help you and your child remember which glasses are for which activities:

  • Your child could have different colour glasses
Glasses case
  • Your child could have different colour glasses cases
     
  • Your child could use stickers on the case to show what activities they are for

There are different types of glasses to choose from

Glasses

Bifocals or varifocals are glasses that have special lenses.

The lenses will help your child see further away and close to them.

Sunglasses

Your child can get glasses that help them see clearly that are also sunglasses.

Some glasses have lenses that go dark when the sun is out.

Trying on glasses

There are lots of frames that are very strong or very thin or flexible.

These frames might fit your child’s face better.

Glasses

The optician will help you choose the right glasses for your child.

Money

You may need to pay some money for your child's glasses.

Talk to the optician about the cost of your child's glasses.

You will be able to get a voucher that makes your child's glasses cheaper or free.

Someone wearing glasses

The optician will make sure the glasses you have chosen fit your child.

Trying on glasses

They will measure your child’s face to check the glasses fit well and will be comfortable.

Trying on glasses

It may take a week or more for them to make your child's new glasses.

After the glasses have been made they will need to be fitted.

It is important for your child to wear their new glasses

A wheelchair user

It helps them to see things more clearly.

Tell people who support your child about why they need to wear them.

They need to know what your child wears glasses for.

Health action plan

Write why your child wears glasses in their health action plan or personal records at home and at school.

Sitting back

Your child's glasses will help them see things more clearly.

If your child used to sit close to the TV they may want to sit further back now.

Reading

If they used to look at things very closely they may be able to hold things further away now.

Wearing glasses

It might take time for your child to get used to wearing their new glasses.

It is important that your child's glasses feel comfortable.

If the glasses do not seem comfortable on your child’s face after wearing them for a while, they can be adjusted by the optician.

Wearing glasses

The glasses should rest on your child's nose and fit well over their ears.

This means they can look through the middle of the lens.

Someone with a hearing aid

If your child wears a hearing aid their glasses should fit comfortably over their ear and hearing aid.

Wearing glasses

Make sure your child can see through the clear lens of their glasses.

Adjusting glasses

It can be easy to notice when glasses do not fit properly.

It might take your child some time to get used to wearing their new glasses.

Clear vision

The world might look different too.

Blurry vision

Your child may have got used to things looking blurred or not clear before they got their glasses.

Trying out new glasses

Your child may need to practice wearing their new glasses.

Your child can wear their new glasses when they are doing something they enjoy.

30 minutes

Your child can wear their new glasses for a short amount of time at first.

Messaging on the phone

Your child can wear their glasses around the house or garden until they are used to how things look when they are wearing them.

Smiling

Your child should take their glasses out with them.

They can take their glasses with them when they go out with friends, to school, college, shopping or other places.

Glasses case

If your child has 2 pairs of glasses, they can carry the second pair in a glasses case in their bag.

If your child uses a wheelchair

A wheelchair user

If their wheelchair has a head rest make sure that their glasses are comfortable and do not slip out of place as their head settles against their head rest.

Sun

You should make sure that the person who supports your child does not place them facing into bright sun.

This could be very uncomfortable for your child.