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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that the choice of glasses for kids is rubbish

34 replies

DrBuckles · 15/02/2019 22:34

Ds needs glasses so we were choosing some yesterday.

In the whole opticians only 4 columns were for children and these needed to cover both boys and girls from age 2 (or small at least) right through to when they need adult specs.

We managed to find 1 pair that were ok thank goodness but only 1 there was no actual choices for him.

Surely there should be more choice, are other opticians more kitted out for kids or are they all much of a muchness? He only needs them part time but I can’t imagine having to choose from that measly selection for years of my child’s life if they wore them all the time!

OP posts:
madeyemoodysmum · 15/02/2019 22:38

Really? are you looking in the right places? I have found a selection to be far superior than what I had in the 70s a choice of 2NHS specs,lovely!

now they have super cool designs with super heroes and nice colours, I think you need to shop around. You do know you can take your prescription anywhere don’t you??

Lululemonade · 15/02/2019 22:43

Sorry but YABU. I got my first pair of glasses at 4 in the 80s and the only choice I had was pink,blue,clear or brown frames and they were all the same ugly style.

Sirzy · 15/02/2019 22:44

I have worn glasses since I was a kid. I could pick blue or pink. The choice now is great

Starlight456 · 15/02/2019 22:45

I also grew up in the70’s with the same choice.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 15/02/2019 22:48

Specsavers seemed to have loads of kids’ frames last time I was there. DD was gutted she didn’t need any.

firawla · 15/02/2019 22:48

My ds has had glasses since about 4, he’s 7 now and never really felt like there was a lack of choice. He normally gets to pick from a few colours in whichever style fits best and he’s been happy enough with that

DramaAlpaca · 15/02/2019 22:50

My local independent has loads of choice for kids.

I also remember the days of one style only in a few different colours. My first glasses were the NHS pink ones. We've come a long way since then.

EdwardScissorskills · 15/02/2019 22:50

I also spent a decade choosing between the NHS specs in blue, pink or clear. DD is spoiled for choice in Specsavers. Plenty of choice.

Mind you, she puts her glasses on her face not her genitalia, so I guess that doubles her options. Hmm

LittleOwl153 · 15/02/2019 22:52

My dd has worn glasses full time since she was a toddler. It is only this time - she's 9 - that our local optician hasn't been able to supply something that worked for her. We switched to specsavers and she has a choice - and actually fits alot of the adult frames too! (Trying to find adult glasses within a reasonable price range I find much harder)

Goposie · 15/02/2019 22:52

I know what you mean op. Lots of the kids glasses have got Disney or other designs on so are too young for my dc and they can’t have metal frames so the choice is right down.

madeyemoodysmum · 15/02/2019 22:53

I don’t get it Edward scissor

BornInAThunderstorm · 15/02/2019 22:56

Have you shopped around? There are lots of places to find glasses, Asda have a good range and some nice brands and characters. Specsavers have some stylish brands for older kids too

TeacupDrama · 15/02/2019 22:58

my local independent optician has about 40 - 60 ( ok maybe 25 unique designs as some come in 3-4 colourways) but when I was 10 your choice was pink, blue, clear or brown plastic I had clear they looked like the bottom of milk bottles; all the same shape; compared to when I was a child the choice is spectacular

even when I was a young adult /mid- teenagerthe choice wasn't much better when you could add tortoiseshell, grey or black plastic and silver/ gold metal and about 4-5 styles

Tiredofit · 15/02/2019 23:05

I’m jealous DramaAlpaca my Mum didn’t like the pink so I had the brown ones. 45 years later I still think about it.

I did think the selection was pretty poor the last time ds3 (12) needed glasses. I had to pay for adult one’s as the children’s didn’t fit him. .

BeautyWasTheBeast · 15/02/2019 23:05

We really struggled last year with Ds(10)... Specsavers was all stick man, gruffalo, football teams or superheros. He thought they were all too babyish but the teen ones were too big for his face.
We went to boots with his prescription and got him a pair from there...though there wasn't as much choice they were more suited to his tastes.

Take your DC prescription and look around other opticians.

MereDintofPandiculation · 15/02/2019 23:07

It's true that the NHS choices way back were grim, but even then you could buy children's frames in a variety of styles, it's just that people didn't, because the choice was free NHS or pay for frames at commercial prices.

TurtleEyes · 15/02/2019 23:11

You don't have to get your specs from the place you have the test. Ask for copy of prescription (GOS2 for NHS tests) and the voucher towards costs (GOS3) and shop around. Specsavers have a much bigger range online than I store and can order them in for your DC to try. And they do two pairs so you have another if the first pair needs repairing.
Just don't lose the GOS3 because it can't be reissued of you do!

Sirzy · 16/02/2019 07:33

Ds is awkward to fit glasses too and if we can’t find any on the shelf (he is also very anti super hero and football which does limit choice) then they will always find some that fit him even if it’s ones that are found behind the scenes! He has never been in a position of not having a choice of frames which are more than suitable and being able to get two different pairs.

anniehm · 16/02/2019 07:59

Specsavers has a decent range from 10 or so (dd started wearing them then so can't speak for younger). I'm guessing that there's no so many frames made for younger as not many kids wear them. They have catalogues on top of-the display glasses I discovered if you really cannot find what you like

TeenTimesTwo · 16/02/2019 08:08

YABU. DD2 has worn glasses since she was 5. We can always find some she likes that fit.

When you say just 1 pair, are you saying only one pair out of 4 columns fitted, or he only liked 1 pair? If the former YANBU, if the latter then you are being too fussy.

Pinkprincess1978 · 16/02/2019 08:13

Really?! Things are so much better than when I was a child, I had next to no choice and you didn't get free repairs or replacements. 3 years in a row I had to be glassesless for about 3 months when mine broke but the new nhs voucher wasn't ready!

It often takes my ds ages to choose his new ones as there is so many for him to choose from.

implantsandaDyson · 16/02/2019 08:16

My youngest has worn glasses full time from 5. She's 8 now and she's always had quite a few choices when she's replaced her glasses. She doesn't like character frames and has had both metal and plastic frames. We get her glasses in Boots, we preferred their selection but took her prescription to Specsavers when she got sunglasses.

PeterPiperPickedWrong · 16/02/2019 08:21

DC has been wearing glasses since 18 months old, always had plenty of choice from standard NHS to designer from kids through to teens sizes.
Where are you taking your DS?

RollaCola84 · 16/02/2019 08:57

I think you should try some different opticians if possible as the choice for kids now is great. I started wearing glasses aged 2 in the 80s, I just missed the NHS Blue or Pink but the choice was still pretty crap. I still love the green and white plastic with daisies I had aged 6 though Grin

GreenTulips · 16/02/2019 09:02

My DV had all sorts of options - I agree Asda were the best for choice in different styles and colours, some you could add sunglasses too

You’re looking in the wrong place