Prescription Sunglasses for under 16s

[6ixThirty]

Hi, looking for some advice.

DD14 has recently started wearing glasses and has found them really beneficial, she wears them all the time. But when she is out she is finding things very bright.
I wanted to get her some sunglasses from Glasses Direct, but their T&C's state that it is illegal to sell prescription sunglasses to under 16s.
Has anyone come across this before? Is this even correct? Surely no one would know if I just got them?
Would appreciate some advice on this.

Please don't - glasses for under 16 legally need to be dispensed by a qualified professional- there are good reasons for this

Have you priced them through your optician?

From another online retailer..

As we are an eyewear retailer rather than an Optician, unfortunately legislation prevents us from being able to supply glasses to those under the age of 16.

So looks like you need to buy via an optician.

@Earlgreyandcake she has a pair properly dispensed which she wears all the time. These would just be sunglasses for occasional use. I can't afford the £70 odd that it would be to go back to Boots.
Please can you explain the reasoning behind this?

Try Asda, they're usually cheap. How cheap were Glasses Direct for sunnies?

If the measurements are even slightly out they may induce headaches or blurry vision.

This is more significant in children as their eyes are still developing

Too late now but I always wait until opticians (usually boots) have a BOGOF offer and get my prescription sunglasses then. Something to consider in future.

They were coming out at about £40.

Asda opticians are really good value. I’d have a look there

Which is basically an admission that buying online is a load of inaccurate shite. It just matter more for kids.

I am looking at their website but can't seem to find sunglasses on there.

It is - unfortunately if you want accurately measured and fitted glasses you need to pay for a professionals time - on the high street no u16 can be dispensed without sign off from a dispensing optician with a minimum of 3 years training

I wish they kept that up for adults. You rarely see the dispensing optician these days. Its just assistants.

I have Mint Magnetic frames, so prescription glasses with a magnetic 'sunglasses' overlay. https://www.minteyewear.co.uk/product-category/magnetic-clip-on-sunglasses/

When did you get her glass from boots? I have on the past managed to get them to give me the BOGOF offer within a month or two of getting new glasses. It will depend on how flexible the branch is, but some will do it.

Can't help now, aside from flip up clip ons which can be a nuisance, but next time, try asking the optician's advice on photochromic lenses.

This blurb from on the asda website mentions sunglasses.

I can't buy online either my prescription is to complex and the option has to sign off on it. I do wonder about online glasses.

It was just before Christmas.

I've used them and its pot luck. Perhaps OK for the simplest of prescriptions but nothing too strong, astigmatism/axis, critical PD. Shame theres no real auditing of these places. Even the high street is pot luck.

Hum probably to late this time, sounds like your best bet is Asda.

I would also recommend photochromic lenses for her next pair, I've had them since a teen as am sensitive to light. They really are good.

Will have to go there next time.
At Boots we found that none of the children's designs were suitable. They are designed for much smaller heads!

I could not persuade my kids’ opticians (Specsavers) to sell me prescription sunglasses over the phone, even though they have all their details from eye checks done earlier in March this year. They said they would need to make an appointment, but they didn’t have any appointments left we could get to between trying to buy sunglasses and going on holiday. So we’ve gone with the no sunglasses at all option. Having had a friend die this week from ocular melanoma, I feel it really shouldn’t be as hard as it is to buy sunglasses for kids.

precription sunglasses are just normal frames with tinted lenses.
we go for the bogof or buy one and get the other half price deals.

Backinthebox

It would be illegal for them to do it over the phone - and for good reason.

The store would lose it's registration if it did so