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Kids glasses...

14 replies

OnNaturesCourse · 24/02/2026 13:52

I keep getting ads on my social media for online glasses which is great but I need kids glasses for my daughter and I can not for the life of me find anywhere suitable online (ie slightly cheaper).

Does anyone know of somewhere?

OP posts:
Carnation25 · 24/02/2026 13:53

Assuming you are in the UK, children's glasses are paid for by the NHS.

goz · 24/02/2026 13:53

Are you in the Uk? I thought children’s glasses came under the NHS?

OnNaturesCourse · 24/02/2026 13:57

NHS is great but they provide one pair, and not sunglasses. As she goes between houses school childcare clubs etc etc I'm more keen to have spares at some locations as she's as forgetful as a goldfish. Plus she'd like different designs than the NHS provide.

OP posts:
RosesAndHellebores · 24/02/2026 13:59

OnNaturesCourse · 24/02/2026 13:57

NHS is great but they provide one pair, and not sunglasses. As she goes between houses school childcare clubs etc etc I'm more keen to have spares at some locations as she's as forgetful as a goldfish. Plus she'd like different designs than the NHS provide.

Then you have to pay. Try Specsavers, they do two for one and one pair can be sun glasses.

dementedpixie · 24/02/2026 14:05

Its illegal to buy glasses for children under 16 online as they have to be fitted by an optician.

Glasses Direct says:

Due to limitations, we currently cannot

Offer children’s glasses. It is currently illegal to sell prescription glasses online for children under the age of 16 in the UK.

dementedpixie · 24/02/2026 14:07

You are free to buy extra pairs from any optician if you get a copy of the prescription. You can't buy kids glasses online

Fleurdalys · 24/02/2026 14:08

dementedpixie · 24/02/2026 14:05

Its illegal to buy glasses for children under 16 online as they have to be fitted by an optician.

Glasses Direct says:

Due to limitations, we currently cannot

Offer children’s glasses. It is currently illegal to sell prescription glasses online for children under the age of 16 in the UK.

How?
if you have a prescription how is the online company going to know how old the person is?
I ordered online for my 15 year old 4 years ago?

Legomania · 24/02/2026 14:13

Fleurdalys · 24/02/2026 14:08

How?
if you have a prescription how is the online company going to know how old the person is?
I ordered online for my 15 year old 4 years ago?

I can't speak for op but my DS needs child-sized glasses

MJFEB2026 · 24/02/2026 14:14

Try Asda

CitizenZ · 24/02/2026 14:20

Fleurdalys · 24/02/2026 14:08

How?
if you have a prescription how is the online company going to know how old the person is?
I ordered online for my 15 year old 4 years ago?

The PD (pupillary distance) is not part of the prescription and is taken by the Dispensing Optician when dispensing spectacles. Once you're an adult and have finished growing this measurement will stay the same, but in children it obviously changes as they grow. The stronger the prescription, the more important it is to have this measurement correct as it can have a prism effect if the lens isn't centred correctly. That's why children need to be seen by someone rather than ordering online.

NewZebra · 24/02/2026 14:20

You don’t have to pick the free ones, you can pay a bit towards them and get the branded glasses.

Fleurdalys · 24/02/2026 14:20

Legomania · 24/02/2026 14:13

I can't speak for op but my DS needs child-sized glasses

Ah I didn’t think of that…..

ImFineItsAllFine · 24/02/2026 14:27

Fleurdalys · 24/02/2026 14:08

How?
if you have a prescription how is the online company going to know how old the person is?
I ordered online for my 15 year old 4 years ago?

My kids' glasses prescriptions have their date of birth written on them...

OP, as pp have said you aren't going to be able to get anything online in the UK.

Different opticians will have different choices of frames, you just need to take a copy of the prescription with you and shop around a bit until you find something DC likes. We've always found Specsavers pretty reasonable for both choice and price when paying for extra pairs.

APurplePanda · 22/03/2026 19:06

dementedpixie · 24/02/2026 14:05

Its illegal to buy glasses for children under 16 online as they have to be fitted by an optician.

Glasses Direct says:

Due to limitations, we currently cannot

Offer children’s glasses. It is currently illegal to sell prescription glasses online for children under the age of 16 in the UK.

thats right. but you can buy frames online without the lenses. My daughter broke her glasses and wanted the same character ones she had, so i bought the frame online and got the lenses fit and checked by the opticians.

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