Common Questions About Lenses

1

Frames & Fit

  • What type of frames are recommended for toddlers?

    For toddlers, we recommend flexible, durable frames made from materials like silicone or soft plastics. These frames are designed to withstand the active lifestyle of young children, offering both comfort and resilience. Look for frames with a comfortable fit, adjustable straps, or bands to keep them securely in place. Additionally, we feature top brands like Nano Vista, Dilli Dalli, and Gizmo, known for their child-friendly and high-quality designs. Our collection combines style with practicality, ensuring your child enjoys both comfort and clear vision in frames from trusted brands.

  • Parents can ensure a frame fit correctly by checking a few key aspects:

    1. Bridge Fit: The frame should sit comfortably on the nose without sliding down.
    2. Eye Alignment: The child's eyes should be centered within the lens frames.
    3. Temple Length: The temples should extend straight back to the ears without bending.
    4. Comfort: The frame shouldn't pinch or leave marks on the nose or behind the ears.
    5. Stability: Frames should stay in place even when the child moves around actively.

    A well-fitted frame is crucial for comfort and effective vision correction.

  • Kids grow fast, and so do their vision needs. It's essential to remember that glasses are more than just a fashion statement; they're a crucial part of their everyday life. Frames that once fit perfectly can become too tight or too loose as they grow, leading to discomfort or even improper vision correction. Plus, with frequent prescription changes during these growing years, it's wise to reassess whether new lenses in the old frames will do the trick or if it's time for a completely new set of specs. Keeping up with these changes is key to ensuring your child's comfort and visual health.

  • This chart gives you an approximate range of sizes based on age, but these measurements can vary depending on the child’s complexion.
     

    Child's Age Eye Size Temple Length
    0-24 Months 34 -39 110 - 115
    2 - 4 Years 40 - 44 115 - 125
    4 - 6 Years 44 - 46 120 - 125
    6 - 8 Years 46 - 48 125 - 130
    8 - 10 Years 48 - 50 130 - 135


    You can use our Fit Wizard to find the best frames based on your child’s age and our expertise https://www.optiwow.com/fit-wizard

  • To keep glasses from falling off, ensure they fit well. This includes checking the frame's bridge size, arm length, and overall frame size. A snug, not tight, fit on the nose and behind the ears is crucial. Adjustable nose pads or earpieces can help. For active kids, consider straps or ear hooks for added security You can check our optigrips https://www.optiwow.com/products/accessories/optigrips/46643=optigrips-bkl221-eyeglasses-grips-crystal

    and sports bands (link to website page). Regular adjustments by an optician can maintain the right fit as your child grows and the frames experience wear and tear.

  • Having two pairs of glasses for your child can be beneficial. It provides backup in case one pair is broken, lost, or being repaired. Additionally, having a spare pair ensures that your child's vision needs are continuously met without interruption, which is crucial for their daily activities and overall eye health. It can also be practical to have different pairs for different activities, like a sturdy pair for sports and a standard pair for everyday use.

  • For special needs children, brands like Specs4us, Nano Vista, and Dilli Dalli are often recommended. These brands specialize in creating durable, flexible, and comfortable frames that are well-suited for children with special needs. They offer features like hypoallergenic materials, no metal parts, and adjustable bands, making them safe and secure options. The choice depends on the specific needs and preferences of your child, including fit, comfort, and style.

2

Lenses & Prescriptions

  • Single vision refers to eyeglass lenses that have a single prescription power across the entire lens surface. These lenses are designed to correct one specific vision problem, such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), or astigmatism. Unlike progressive lenses that have different prescription powers for near and distance vision, single vision lenses have a consistent power throughout, providing clear vision at a fixed focal distance. These are the most are commonly used for children who need correction for only one type of vision issue.

  • While no prescription lenses are 100% scratch-proof, we provide lenses with advanced coatings that greatly enhance scratch resistance. These coatings offer better protection and reduce the risk of scratches, maintaining lens clarity over time. Remember, proper care and handling are essential for maximizing the life of your lenses. Choose our high-quality coated lenses for a clear, durable vision solution.

  • Ensuring your child's prescription is accurate starts with the expertise of the eye doctor and is followed by our precise lens crafting. When you pick up the glasses, observe your child's reactions closely. Signs of correct prescription include your child showing interest in distant objects, reaching out accurately for things, and appearing more engaged with their surroundings. Any signs of discomfort, like frequent eye rubbing or crying, should prompt a re-evaluation. Rest assured, we're committed to working with you and your child's eye doctor to ensure the best possible vision for your little one.

  • Since we only service children, we only sell polycarbonate lenses.

    We recommend polycarbonate lenses for children primarily because they are impact-resistant and highly durable. Polycarbonate lenses provide essential protection for active kids, reducing the risk of breakage and potential eye injuries. They are also lighter and thinner than regular plastic lenses, making them more comfortable for children to wear.

    Additionally, polycarbonate lenses offer built-in UV protection, safeguarding their eyes from harmful UV rays.

  • A PD (Pupillary Distance) measurement is the distance between the centers of the pupils in each eye. This measurement is crucial for crafting prescription glasses, as it ensures the correct alignment of lenses with the eyes for optimal visual clarity. Precise PD measurements are key to comfortable and effective eyewear, especially for prescriptions that require a high level of accuracy.

    For a detailed guide on how to measure PD, especially for children, you can visit Optiwow's website https://www.optiwow.com/support/measure-pd. They provide a comprehensive explanation and steps to accurately measure PD at home. Here's the link to their guide: Optiwow PD Measurement Guide.

  • Transition lenses, also known as photochromic lenses, typically take about 5 minutes to clear up when moving from a bright outdoor environment to indoors. However, the exact time can vary depending on the brand and the specific type of transition lenses. Factors like the temperature can also affect the speed at which they change. Warmer conditions tend to make the transition quicker, whereas colder temperatures can slow down the process.

  • Standard anti-glare coatings reduce lens reflections, enhancing vision clarity and comfort. Blue light coatings offer these benefits plus protection against blue light from screens, which may reduce digital eye strain. The choice depends on your child’s exposure to digital devices.

  • For children, buying lenses with transitions and anti-glare coatings, even without a prescription, can be beneficial. Transition lenses adapt to changing light, reducing the need for separate sunglasses, which can be practical and cost-effective. Anti-glare coatings enhance visual comfort when using digital screens, and makes them cosmetically more appealing also helps with night driving. While not medically required, these features can improve a child's overall visual experience and comfort.

  • Unfortunately, we are not able to fill a bifocal lens prescription via long distance. A bifocal measurement requires your child to have the pair of eyeglasses on, because the measurement must be taken correctly to be able to dissect the pupil at the correct height. This would ensure that an accurate prescription is achieved.

    You can buy the “frame only” and take it to your local optical to have the Rx filled.

  • When shopping for eyeglasses, particularly for children, it's important to recognize why lens prices can vary significantly from one provider to another. This difference is not arbitrary but is deeply rooted in the quality of the lenses, the materials used, their manufacturing process, and the technology behind them. Here’s what sets our lenses apart:

    1. Quality and Clarity: The visual development of children is a critical phase where every detail matters. We prioritize lenses that offer the clearest image possible, free from abrasions and distortions. This clarity is essential not just for clear vision but for the proper development of their visual system. A child’s brain learns to see over time, and high-quality lenses support this learning process by providing the best visual input.

    2. Advanced Manufacturing: Our lenses come from advanced manufacturing processes, including digital surfacing technology (as opposed to conventional plano lenses). Digital surfacing ensures a level of precision in lens creation that traditional methods cannot match, offering superior visual quality and comfort, tailored to the wearer's specific prescription.

    3. Material Integrity: We select lenses made from superior materials that resist peeling, scratching, and wear over time. This durability is especially important for children’s eyewear, which can be subject to more frequent bumps and accidents.

    4. Comprehensive Warranty: Recognizing the investment you are making in your child’s vision, we stand by the quality of our lenses with a comprehensive warranty. This is our promise to you that the lenses you purchase are built to last and support your child’s vision development. Unfortunately, not all providers offer such peace of mind, with some using lower-quality materials that may degrade or offer no warranty protection at all.

    We understand that price is an important consideration for families. However, when it comes to eyewear for children, where their visual and overall cognitive development is at stake, the quality of the lenses becomes paramount. Choosing lesser-quality lenses might save money in the short term but can compromise the clarity of vision and, potentially, the proper development of your child’s visual system.

    At Optiwow, we are committed to offering only top-quality lenses that support and enhance your child’s vision development. Our focus is on providing value through lenses that offer the clearest, most accurate visual experience, ensuring that your child’s brain receives the best possible visual information for correct development.

    We’re here to help you understand the options and make the best choice for your child’s vision and future. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

3

Care

  • To avoid scratches handle with care. One of the quickest ways eyeglasses can get damaged is by getting scratched. To prevent scratches that can obstruct vision and affect the durability of the lenses, it’s important to teach your child the following:

    • Never place the eyeglasses face down. The lenses should never touch any surface directly. This simple habit can significantly reduce the risk of scratching.

    It might be tempting to clean your child’s eyeglasses with the most convenient item available, like the corner of a shirt or any cloth at hand. However, these materials can be abrasive and may cause more harm than good.

    1. Use dish soap and warm water. Gently rinse the eyeglasses under a stream of lukewarm water. Apply a small amount of dish soap to each lens, using your fingers to carefully rub the soap across the lenses and frame. This method helps remove grease and keeps the lenses clear without harsh chemicals.

    2. Rinse thoroughly. Make sure all soap residues are washed off with warm water. Leftover soap can leave smudges, affecting the clarity of the lenses.

    3. Dry with a paper cloth. For the best results, use a cloth similar to Bounty for drying. These materials are soft and highly absorbent, ensuring a streak-free finish without risking scratches.

    Educating Your Child Taking care of eyeglasses is also a great opportunity to teach your child about responsibility and the importance of taking care of their belongings. Encourage them to be mindful of where they put their glasses and to use the proper cleaning methods. With your guidance, they can develop good habits that will keep their eyeglasses in great shape for years to come.

  • Glasses can become misaligned through daily wear and tear or accidents. If you notice that your child's eyeglasses have lost their shape or fit, it's important to address this issue promptly to ensure they provide the correct vision support and comfort.

    Do Not Attempt Home Repairs: While it may be tempting to try straightening them at home, we strongly advise against it. Attempting to adjust the frames yourself can lead to breakage, resulting in the need for costly repairs or replacements.

    Professional Assistance: The safest and most effective way to have eyeglasses adjusted is by taking them to an optical shop. Most optical shops offer adjustment services, often at no cost, ensuring that your child's glasses are correctly aligned to their face without risking damage. Professionals have the right tools and expertise to make precise adjustments, ensuring a perfect fit.

  • While the Optiwow warranty does not cover lost glasses, we understand how frustrating this situation can be, especially when it concerns your child's visual development. As a valued customer, we are committed to assisting you in such circumstances. We can explore options to help alleviate the situation, reflecting our priority for your child's vision needs. Please contact us to discuss how we can support you in this matter.