Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

People whose young children have glasses: how often do they break them?

37 replies

GrouchyKiwi · 12/09/2019 17:12

My 5-year-old has had glasses for about two months. We're on our second pair after the first ones broke when she was rough-housing with the dog. She's just broken the second pair playing silly games with her sisters.

I feel mortified that she's going through them so quickly and will just "fix" these with some tape this time.

But is this typical for this age group or have we chosen some particularly flimsy glasses?

OP posts:
MuseumOfYou · 12/09/2019 17:17

We had one pair that lasted twelve minutes until she snapped the arm off. I think she was 3.

Original poster
GrouchyKiwi · 12/09/2019 17:19

I guess they must expect it. But surely there's a way to make stronger frames for small children.

OP posts:
Finfintytint · 12/09/2019 17:20

First pair were broken after a child stamped on them at school. From then on he had “bendy” pair that were not easily broken. Speak to the optician. They do cost more.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
RunningKatie · 12/09/2019 17:23

First day of school, then roughly every 3 months.
DS lives life to the max. He now has to leave them inside at break and playtimes. Only 1 pair broken since then i got fed up of doing the opticians walk of shame

Phillipa12 · 12/09/2019 17:24

1 pair lasted less than 24hrs, i got ex to replace them as he was partially responsible for the breakage. His best effort was 5 pairs in 6 weeks thanks to his little sister and her temper. Now hes 10 he has opted for contact lenses, a bit more pricey than glasses but at least when he walks out of school im not worried if his glasses are not on his face!

moonpiggle · 12/09/2019 17:24

My 6 year old daughter has had glasses from age 2 and is known for persistently breaking them! She gets 2 NHS vouchers from the Orthoptist now which means she gets 2 pairs for free at Specsavers. So we have 4 pairs of glasses and down to 1 pair at the moment as the rest are broke.

supercalifragilistic123 · 12/09/2019 17:25

Where are you getting them from? We got my 4yo DS's from boots.

They seem to be doing ok, the frames bend both ways iyswim. Wearing them since Jan. They are scratched but I think that's unavoidable Grin

sunflofferes · 12/09/2019 17:25

My daughter had her first glasses at 4 years old. We were in the opticians every week for the first 6 months!! She would constantly bend them and chew off the rubber nose pads. The opticians couldn't have been more helpful, they said they are used to this with little ones. That's why we go to specsavers as you get two pairs, one to wear and one being fixed. Please don't be embarrassed to take them back, they see this with children every day.

Ilikesweetpeas · 12/09/2019 17:27

I’m quite surprised by these responses! dad has worn glasses since she was 2 and has never broken a pair. She’s 11 now! Does lots of sports and is very active

Seeline · 12/09/2019 17:27

Both my DCs have worn glasses from a young age. Ds broke a pair when they fell off whilst running and the boy behind trod on them. Understandable.

The only pair my DD ever had a problem with were ones which were basically free & they were constantly falling apart.

Since then I have always topped up the NHS voucher, and it does appear to be worth it. I don't spend much.

I would take your DDs back to the opticians. The frames may have bent and not fit properly, which means they may be distorting her vision. They should be checked.

Ilikesweetpeas · 12/09/2019 17:27

Not dad!! DD Smile

yellowallpaper · 12/09/2019 17:42

DS is getting his first pair on Saturday so looking forward to this. Specsavers gave me 2 pairs so at least we have a spare!

Original poster
GrouchyKiwi · 12/09/2019 17:52

I would take your DDs back to the opticians. The frames may have bent and not fit properly, which means they may be distorting her vision. They should be checked.
I didn't think of this.

They're apparently free here in Scotland, which makes me feel extra bad. I offered to pay for the second pair and was told I couldn't.

We got them from our local optician. There aren't many options in our little town.

OP posts:
Nat6999 · 12/09/2019 17:55

Specsavers do 2 pairs for under 16s, one pair in under the NHS & will be replaced or repaired free, no matter how many times they are lost or broken.

FindaPenny · 12/09/2019 18:10

Daughter has worn them since 4 and hasn't broken any. We did have to have the lens replaced in one though, after she scratched it with her teeth.... Don't ask! 🤣

Dontbugmemalone · 12/09/2019 18:26

My DS has had glasses since he was 5. Over a 6 year period, he gone through 9 pairs of glasses.
We go to an independent opticians and they gave never charged for another pair luckily.

Minesril · 12/09/2019 18:56

DS's are currently held together with sellotape! Two weeks of holiday club and one week of sports club and he somehow manages to break them the first week back at school Hmm

Deadringer · 12/09/2019 19:25

My DD is 10 and has been wearing glasses for 9 years, she has only ever broken one pair, they snapped in half when she was taking them off. My DS only ever had one pair broken too, they were knocked off his face in yard and another boy stamped on them. Perhaps we have just been really lucky.

differentcity · 12/09/2019 20:05

Are they metal or plastic? I've worn glasses since I was a toddler. I had metal frames as a kid/teen and never broke any of them. As an adult, I have plastic frames. I've broken two pairs and my most recent ones have a visible crack in them so they're on their way out too at about a year old. I know metal is always going to be more flexible than plastic but I think some plastic frames are particularly flimsy.

NearlySchoolTimeAgain · 12/09/2019 20:06

We always buy a second identical pair. They are hidden. Then when one is being repaired / replaced he has another pair. We also keep the last prescription glasses. Often the optician pop the lenses out of the broken pair and give us the display frames.

Original poster
GrouchyKiwi · 12/09/2019 20:07

They are plastic. I wonder if I can get metal ones for her.

OP posts:
ChocolateBread · 12/09/2019 20:11

Metal ones are holding out (though with the arms well chewed) here.

Hanging on to prescription sunglasses is more of a problem, dd is on her third pair. But she squints without them in bright sun, so I’m keeping on replacing them. And trying to get her to always put them away, rather than just discarding them randomly and losing them.

thewalrus · 12/09/2019 21:20

DS has had glasses since he was 5. He goes through several pairs a year. More when he was younger (he's 11 now).
When he got the glasses the other little boy in the class who had glasses told him not to do so much running around and playing with balls in case he broke them. It was well meant, but I made sure DS knew that he should just behave normally and we would replace his glasses as needed.
As an aside, he plays a lot of sport, and sports 'goggles' have been a total game changer for him. He's had them for two years so far and they've been brilliant. Something for the future maybe...

IncyWincyGrownUp · 12/09/2019 22:12

In 4.5 years of glasses use (about seven prescription changes) only one pair have been broken, they had an argument with a balance bike at nursery.

blanketstatement · 12/09/2019 22:14

Dd has had them since 18 months and has yet to break a pair! We get them from a specialist optometrist...maybe they have more robust versions?

Swipe left for the next trending thread