10. Glasses for Kids & Ambylopia Treatment - Vision of Children Summer 2026

In infants and toddlers, what types of frames should be considered?

A durable frame with no hinges

What is good to recommend in terms of glasses for infants and toddlers?

A frame that comes with a strap

Will infants and toddlers chew on their glasses? What is the problem with this?

Yes, they may chew on them and pull them off face frequently. We do not want to recommend glasses that may be dangerous if this happens.

Magnetized Sunclips and Temples that can be Switched with Bands (Pic)

Magnetized Sunclips and Temples that can be Switched with Bands (Pic)

For toddlers and preschool aged kids, we can consider _______

cable temples

What is important about cable temple glasses?

-more difficult to take off

-have to make sure the temples are in one piece & the curved part should not be able to be pulled apart

What types of frames do we want for school aged kids?

Frames that are durable

Flexible materials

Spring hinges OK

Something that the kid likes rather than the parent's choice

Is it OK to fit a child in a larger frame so that the child can "grow into it"?

No

Kids can start to wear adult frames around age ___

10

Is AR coating recommended for children?

Not usually because it is hard to keep clean

For sports, what types of glasses should be considered?

sports goggles or CLs!

Are regular glasses usually a danger when playing sports?

Yes -- frame could break or nose-pad could get jammed into the eye

What lens materials should be recommended for kids specs?

polycarbonate or trivex materials that are impact resistant

For first bifocal Rx (strabismus, eso), what should be recommended?

flat top bifocal

Should we recommend PALs for children?

No, PALs do not work for strabismus if you can accommodate -- a child is not motivated to find the correct power by blur like an adult is

Seg height in a child is (higher/lower) than for an adult. Why?

higher - forces them to actually use the near power

Where should the seg height be for a child being prescribed a bifocal?

Flat top seg to bisect pupil. Write this on the RX!

Should you be able to see the child posture to use the seg when looking at near?

Yes

Is adaptation a problem for myopic kids usually?

No

Do myopes want to wear their glasses?

Yes -- or at least can appreciate the difference in vision

Can hyperopes object to their glasses at first?

Yes -- child was cyclopleged when prescribed. But not usually on the day they pick up their glasses

Once hyperopic children are adapted to their glasses, will they like to wear them?

Yes

What type of RX can help the cosmesis of hyperopic lenses?

aspheric lenses

What expectations should be set BEFORE THE DISPENSING VISIT with the patient?

-appearance of the glasses

-magnification of facial features

-anisometropia

If a child is hyperopic and refuses to wear their glasses, what can be done (drops)?

Cycloplegic drops so that the child cannot see without their glasses on. It makes them want to wear the glasses

What can parents do to improve compliance of glasses wear?

Put glasses on while the child is sleeping so they don’t go through the process of putting on the glasses, and therefore don’t think to take them off

What are the different options for ways to occlude children with amblyopia?

-cloth patch attached to the frame

-adhesive patch to stick on the skin

-bangerter filters

-1% atropine (in some situations)

How to prepare a cloth patch over glasses for children?

-cut a slit on the nasal side to keep the patch stable (and prevent peeking)

-cut slits on the temporal side to put the temple through to hold the cloth away from the head but prevent a peeking area

Do adhesive patches come in different sizes? What size should you use?

Come in different sizes -- use the smallest size that occludes the child fully

Warning with adhesive patching

Some brands of patches have tiny holes at the edge (like bandaids), make sure kids cannot see through them as pinholes

If skin becomes irritated with adhesive patching, what is a way to help this?

Parent can press patch on their own skin before sticking it on the child's eye to lessen the adhesive. Also moisturizers and lotions may help after patching.

What are Bangerter filters for amblyopia patching?

-less cosmetically noticeable and does not obscure peripheral vision

-cut to fit the lens

-stick on glasses using water

-removable

-different filters create a different amount of blur for the patient

What should you always confirm when using Bangerter filters for amblyopia patching?

Always confirm the VA with the filter over the good eye is WORSE than the amblyopic eye

Does 1% atropine work for everyone when "patching" for amblyopia?

No -- atropine will only blur a child at distance if they are a hyperope without their FULL CYCLOPLEGIC REFRACTION

If a child is hyperopic, what must you check when using 1% atropine for "patching"?

You must CHECK their vision with cycloplegia in their good eye to make sure that the blur created by the atropine will make the vision in their good eye WORSE than the vision in their amblyopic eye

Will atropine work for myopes?

No

Should "pirate patches" be used for amblyopic patching?

No