Can you talk me through getting glasses for dd?

[tortoiseSHELL]

Dd got a prescription for glasses yesterday. She's 4, and I have no idea what the procedure is to get the glasses. Do you normally just turn up to the optician, try some frames on? Do you have to wait for them to be made, or go back in a few days? Do you need an appointment? And how long does it normally take? Any tips much appreciated.

Dd is very happy about getting glasses, I'm less so...sob....but coming to terms with it...

With my dd, we get her eyes tested at the optician, then spend ages choosing frames at the same place. Her prescription is very simple, so they can usually make the glasses for the same day - or overnight at the longest. Did your dd's prescription come form the hospital? If so, I would just choose the friendliest looking opticians and go in ans ask at the counter. We always use Vision Express -they usually have a very good range of children's frames. There is a section of free ones, then there are other ones (usually designer ones) that you have to pay a contribution to. Ask what their policy is on repairs and adjustments - you need to be able to pop in any time to get them straightened or tightened up.

Thanks seeker. WE're going to go into our local optician today after school - it's just round the corner, so I guess that is the best place to go. Wish me luck!

check whether the voucher covers the frames as well if you're using a non-chain optician - my optician charges for frames on top of the lenses (even for children), but he's really good, and both DD and I have had gorgeous pairs of glasses from them. It's not like the old days when you had a choice of pink or blue frames (of if you were realy daring, brown!).
They should be ready within a couple of days, depending if they do them there, or send them off.

Well we went, and got a pair of blue metal frames which were quite sweet. The voucher did cover the frame as well and they were really nice in the shop, so am glad we went to an independent one - very 'local' shop. Thanks for the advice.

Glad it wasn't too traumatic. OK - more glasses wearing tips. If you don't wear them yourself, you won't realize that they do bend quite easily - try not to be cross with her if you've got to go and get them straightened 15 times a week -she probably hasn't done anything except live in them! Remind her to put them down folded and with the lens side up until it becomes second nature - it'll save them from scratching (a bit). Only use a proper cloth to polish them. Try to put them away in their case whenshe's not wearing them (yeah, right!)

OH,snd brace yourself. Before you know it, she'll be 12, and demanding £100 designer frames.....

optician usually does an eye test and while your there you pick out frames,id get cheapish ones and maybe a spare pair as at her age she is likly to lose/break them they usually take a few days unless you pay extra for the one hour ones.oh and glasses bend very easily so be prepared to have to go get them straightened/tightened once a month.maybe you could get the optician to show her how to clean them with the cloth they provide[they usually do this as standard]

my dd (2yo) has been wearing glasses for just over a yr,we went to specsavers as they had the best choice of frames at the time.they have replaced them LOADS of times lol,all repairs and replacements are free for under 16's.
she now has little miss naughty purple metallic ones,they are lovely,good luck.

I did think about getting a spare pair, but I'll see how she gets on to start with. I was a bit worried about getting metal frames (don't know why really), but they did look tons nicer than the plastic ones.

its metal frames that we have always had,if they had been plastic they would have broke instead of bent lol.
to get a spare pair,wait til she has had them a few weeks and just phone the optician and say she has lost them,that way you get a spare pair for free,otherwise you would need to pay for them.

Glad to hear you got sorted out OK. My DD 8 got tested properly for the first time at the optitian and got glasses for distance.

She is over the moon with them, she sees them as a fashion accesory.

We went to an independant and they had a small selection of free glasses and a good selection of glasses that you pay a supplement for, from £6 upwards. I decided to get a pair at £22 because if you spent over £18 you got a free second pair. She has already left her glasses at school twice so the second pair are great so she can still watch TV at home.

I felt bad that I hadn't realised she needed them before now, she must have been struggling for ages as she couldn't even read the second row of letters on the first board. She was amazed the first time she had them on and sat in the car totaly mesmerised watching the world go by.