In my experience as an optician, I've run into many kids who do not want to wear their next pair of glasses after they have already worn glasses for a while. Typically, what happens is your child becomes so comfortable with his current glasses that he has become attached to them. He is familiar with the feel, the look and the vision of his current glasses, but eventually because of growth and/or prescription changes, it will be time for a new pair.

With this new pair, you of course may have changes in prescription, but also it is important to consider how changing the frame will affect how the glasses feel on his or her face. Each change will require a period of time for your child mentally to get used to and be comfortable with.

Here's where there is a problem: I get concerned when we make too many changes. So when choosing a new pair of glasses for your child, it is wise to consider how many changes you're asking your child to get used to all at once. Obviously when talking about a prescription change, the child will need to get used to his or her new vision, but what about the frame changes? Too many changes at once may completely overwhelm a sensitive child.

My rule of thumb is no more than three changes at one time and one of those is the prescription!

When looking at a new frame, first consider the size and weight of the new frame. Is it heavier? Heavier glasses are a major change to a child! They will push down more everywhere they touch the child's head and face, which can be unnerving to a small child.

Are you changing from a plastic frame to a metal frame? A metal frame generally has nose pieces and sits further away frame the face. A plastic frame generally has a molded bridge and sits close to the face. Each style feels quite different on the face.

If your child had a metal frame and you are getting a new metal frame, look at the nose pieces. The nose pads come in different shapes, materials and sizes. If your child has grown to prefer a certain type, it's an easy remedy to change or exchange them out for the kind your child has become accustomed to.

One area that few people think about is the temples or side pieces. Look at the difference in thickness. Wider temples are definitely in style, but once again feel quite different on the face. A wide temple has a larger pressure point ion the head. If your child's ears sit tight to their head a wide temple could actually hurt them and break the skin at the top of the ear. so if you are looking at a frame that is thicker this is something to consider. Of course, the frame area behind the ear can be adjusted, but the optician can not make the temple thinner.

Changing your child's look is a lot of fun. It is an extension of his or her personality and there are so many fun kids glasses to choose from. When it comes to choosing, there is more that meets the eye...think about everything that will touch your child's face on the new pair and compare it to the old. There will always be some changes and changes are often necessary, but it's a good idea to keep the amount of changes to a minimum.

The most important thing you can do for your child's vision is to make sure your child is comfortable wearing his new glasses! When I fit young children, I always consider how much we are asking them to get adjusted to in the new pair. If that means we change the nose pieces to match the old pair or even rule out a pair because there will be too many changes, then that's exactly what we do.