Let's face it. Walking into a doctor's office is not high on kids' "To Do" lists. They'll bring with them memories of vaccinations, drilled teeth, tongue depressors, and brightly lit sterile offices. Therefore, in order to help your child enjoy their eyeglasses there are some important things to take into consideration before buying.

The Right Fit is Important

The most important aspect of a pair of glasses is how they fit. Children's glasses are not miniature versions of adult glasses. Grown-up noses and cheeks are proportioned differently than children's, and spectacle frames need to reflect this in order to fit properly.

Remember that your child is undergoing rapid growth and an improperly fitted frame can cause alterations in developing bone, breathing problems and even create further damage in the vision - a problem the glasses are supposed to correct.

As a child grows, the nose and cheeks change in shape and prominence, so don't expect a child to grow into a pair of glasses. Ordering glasses a little bit too big can cause discomfort, inadequate vision and the frames slide down the nose. By the time they grow into the frame, it will no longer fit due to changes in facial features.

Because they are more active, children are going to be tougher on their glasses, so look for good quality metal or plastic frames with flexible spring hinges - and a good warranty. It is worth spending a little more to get a better quality frame with a good guarantee as it often leads to savings in the long term.

Lenses made of polycarbonate, a very strong plastic are a must. Regular plastic and glass lenses can shatter and possibly lacerate delicate eye tissue.

Polycarbonate lenses are more shatter resistant and therefore much safer. Of course, any lens can scratch if not cared for properly, so here again it's a good idea to compare warranties on lenses. Spectacle lenses can be replaced; children's eyes can't.

Often the biggest initial concern of a parent is whether their child will wear the glasses once they've received them. If a child sees better out of the glasses, at least up to the age of ten, there probably won't be any problem, even with toddlers.

If you are having trouble getting your child to keep their glasses on, first check to see if the glasses fit properly. Children tend not to complain about sore ears and noses as an adult might, so check for redness behind the ears or on the sides of the nose to be sure the frames aren't rubbing uncomfortably or sliding around.

Make sure the glasses aren't falling down on the nose, which can cause distorted and decreased vision. Often it only takes a simple adjustment of the nose pads or ear pieces to make things comfortable again.

If you are still meeting with resistance and the glasses are fitting well, a re-check visit with the prescribing optometrist may be necessary to be sure the child is seeing well through the lens power that was prescribed.

Glasses for children are often like medicine and sometimes the strength of the medicine, or lenses, needs to be adjusted to get the desired results.

Kids Need to be Decision-Makers, Too

If the frame fit and vision is not the problem, your child may be unhappy with the appearance of the glasses. This can be avoided with some steps in the initial stages of frame selection.

First, let your child have some input in deciding on their eyeglasses. Frames they help to select are more apt to be worn than those selected without their input. Remember that most frames are made in several different colors

Second, if your child has a strong prescription the glasses can look thick and uncomfortably heavy. Talk to your eye doctor about special polycarbonate lenses in an aspheric design which cut down on thickness, weight and distortion. In stronger prescriptions, these lenses are more cosmetically pleasing.

Lastly, anti-reflective coatings on the lenses not only cut down on discomforting glare but also remove reflections from the front of the lenses, again making the glasses more cosmetically acceptable. All these options add to the price of the glasses, but paying a little more for eyewear that will be worn is a better investment than getting a pair of glasses that end up shoved in the back of a drawer.