4 Tips on Helping Your Teen Wear Prescription Glasses

January 19, 2024

As a parent, your responsibilities include caring for your child’s eye health. Considering myopia — a common vision problem also known as nearsightedness — affects about 30% of adolescents and their ability to see objects at a distance, they may need vision correction to improve their academic performance and overall quality of life. Although teens can wear contact lenses to compensate for vision impairments, a previous post highlights the increased risk of eye infections and diseases due to the lack of hygiene and improper use of this eyewear.

Thus, teenagers who need corrective eyewear can instead opt for prescription glasses. However, eyeglasses can pose unique challenges, such as teens not being excited or comfortable to wear them due to the change in physical appearance. These tips are hence meant to help parents like you guide their teen in choosing and wearing the right pair of prescription glasses.

1. Understand their vision needs

Getting your teen to wear eyeglasses starts with a visit to the optometrist. By getting their accurate prescription and identifying their vision challenges, they’re more likely to understand why they need to wear glasses. To illustrate, a study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology observed higher proportions of myopia progression among the youngest age groups of 14–15 (18.2 %) and 16–17 years old (13.9 %). This means nearsighted teens must continue wearing glasses to correct their vision and prevent their refractive error from worsening.

2. Let them choose their own frames

While they may understand the need for prescription eyewear, some teens may remain reluctant and self-conscious about wearing them every day. Fortunately, you can boost your child’s self-esteem and confidence by getting them involved in the frame selection process. Top eyewear brand Oakley offers a range of glasses frames that are equally fashionable and functional, allowing teenagers to choose styles and designs that match their personality and sense of style. For instance, the circular Moon Shot frames come in sleek metallic colors like chrome and rose gold, while the Holbrook is more suitable for modern yet minimalist teens.

3. Consider their lifestyle and preferences

Beyond frame selection, you also have to think about how the lens features align with your child’s lifestyle and personal preferences. Since teens nowadays spend a lot of time in front of digital screens that emit blue light, they can benefit from getting blue light-blocking lenses for their eyeglasses. Wellness brand TrueDark’s prescription eyewear line includes lens technology that can block up to 99% of blue light and reduce its adverse effects, such as digital eye strain and sleep disruptions. Meanwhile, teens who live active lifestyles in terms of sports and outdoor activities can consider getting anti-scratch coatings for their prescription lenses to prevent damage and ensure their eyewear lasts a long time.

4. Ensure the right fit

Lastly, your teen can better adjust to wearing glasses if you ensure that their pair has the right fit. This means confirming the frame size is neither too big that it slips from their nose, nor too small and tight that it causes pain and discomfort. It may help to check an eyewear brand or retailer’s size guide, or buy from collections specifically designed for children and teenagers in terms of frame size, bridge width, and temple length.

Overall, taking these tips into account can help create a positive, empowering experience for teenagers who need to wear prescription glasses to improve their vision and overall health.