By Sarah Bureau, RO
From the moment a child is born, every decision is made for them by the people who love them. What to wear, what to eat, when to be awake and asleep, the list goes on and on.
This is a very necessary step in their development. As they grow older, it is a wonderful thing to watch them become more independent, honing in on their unique likes and dislikes about the world around them. While some of this growth can be a frustrating battle of wills between child and caregiver, it is an incredibly important stage in their development. From preferences in colour and style to their favourite movie or cartoon character, each and every child matures into their authentic self.
When it comes to a child needing eyeglasses, we should also embrace the magic of their newfound independence. There is something inspiring about a child’s steadfast dedication to what makes them happy in their unique choices. The world hasn’t tried to make them believe they can’t wear head to toe hot pink or a superhero cape every day or their shoes on the wrong feet. It won’t be long before they lose some of this blissful individualism, so we should celebrate it while it lasts!
When helping a child choose the perfect pair of eyeglasses, it is important to remember to live in their world, if even for a moment. In order to ensure they feel comfortable and authentic in their eyewear you must first understand what makes them unique. It is enough of a struggle to get a child used to wearing their first pair of eyeglasses without forcing them to wear something they do not like. While the children’s section in most opticals is generally the smallest, their choice doesn’t need to be limited. If they cannot find their perfect pair within the children’s section don’t push them to choose something they don’t relate to.
A perfect example of an optician entering the world of the child during frame selection is that of one of my accounts who sent a frame to me for modification recently. The young man they were helping was a major fan of Superman. This little guy wasn’t searching for the classic Clark Kent look though. He wanted bright red frames to match the superhero suit of the famed Superman. He knew exactly what he wanted, and it wasn’t available in his size. It was the shining red Versace in the adult section which caught his eye.
Instead of telling him that his dream eyewear wasn’t an option for him, the optician thought outside of the box and made it happen. Setting aside the textbook “perfect fit” to achieve the “perfect pair” for him was prioritized. Although it was a petite adult frame, his juvenile facial features meant that it sat too low and close to his cheek and that the temples were too long. She sent the frame to me for a combination of modifications to create a custom fit piece just for him.
The bridge was modified by creating an alternative fit suitable for a low bridge. This modification is created by removing the original bridge bump and molecularly fusing a new bridge on which raises the frame up and away from the face. This service is perfect to create a more comfortable fit for any client with a low bridge. The temples were also reduced in length to avoid long tips hanging uncomfortably behind his ears. The temple tips were trimmed shorter, reshaped and polished to make them 20 mm shorter.
This combination of modifications sat the frame in the proper vertical position, pushed them away from his cheek and allowed for a proper and secure fit behind his ears. Can you imagine how happy he was to have his new eyeglasses dispensed? His first glimpse in the mirror would have been a reflection of his hero Superman. We could all learn a thing of two from their whimsy and fantastical world view.
By thinking outside of the box, this little man was able to maintain his autonomy, feel confident and happy in his new eyeglasses, and have a child’s dream vision come to life.
The next time a freshly independent child walks through your door, take the moment to soak in some of their magic and consider the ways you can help to create a pair of eyeglasses they will be proud to wear by offering a custom approach to dispensing.
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