Best Kids’ Glasses Online 2022
Believe it or not, you can purchase a great pair of kids’ glasses online. Whether you’re searching for prescription lenses, teeny toddler specs or blue light glasses for older kids, online retailers make it easy to choose frames, upload prescriptions and pick the best features for your child. For example, our top pick, Zenni Optical, offers a wide range of extremely affordable kids’ glasses, which can be checked out with the virtual try-on feature.
A simple shopping experience and affordable prices make Zenni Optical our top pick for finding … [+]
But when making a decision that’s so specific to the individual—both in terms of fit and functionality—there are some extra factors to consider before making your final purchase. Finding the right pair of kids’ glasses online takes some research and attention to detail. To simplify your search and save you some digging, we’ve gathered seven popular eyewear brands and highlighted the most useful information, from general turnaround times to return policies—and whether they accept insurance, HSA or FSA.
Best Kids’ Glasses Overall
A Simple Shopping Experience That Won’t Break The Bank
Best Customizable Kids’ Glasses
Snap-On Covers Let Kids Switch Up Their Style
Best Variety Of Kids’ Glasses
A Ton Of Options Means Finding The Exact Pair They Want
Best Designer Kids’ Glasses
Designer Brands Where You Already Shop
Best Kids’ Glasses In Classic Styles
Classic Styles In Child-Friendly Materials
Best Affordable Kids’ Glasses
Budget-Friendly Prices And A Generous Return Policy
Best Try-Before-You-Buy Kids’ Glasses
Try Out Up To Seven Frames Before Making A Purchase
How We Found The Best Kids Glasses Online
We know that taking care of your child’s eyesight is of the utmost importance to you, and we take it seriously, too. That’s why we spent the time to research and fully vet each of these online retailers for quality, professionalism and respect in the industry. Then, we compared the value and quality of the selection of each, insurance eligibility, return policy and order turnaround time. We spent time on each site so see if we genuinely enjoyed the experience and learned about any special offers or features. And perhaps most importantly, we enlisted a team of experts, doctors who know what they’re talking about, for their advice and professional opinions.
How To Shop For Kids’ Glasses Online
Shopping for glasses for your child can be stressful. There are plenty of variables to consider, and we know that this is a time-consuming, often multi-step process that begins with a doctor’s appointment and ends with (hopefully) a one-and-done glasses shopping experience, so we’re here to help make things easier.
Have The Correct Prescription On Hand
Interpreting your child’s prescription
After your kid’s RX comes in, there will be a number of possible codes on it that all mean different things. Here’s a quick cheat sheet:
- SPH: This is a number that indicates what your spherical refractive error is, which determines whether you’re near- or far-sighted. Each eye will have a number.
- CYL: This points to the existence of an astigmatism and how it needs to be corrected.
- Axis: Another astigmatism figure, this is what it equates to in degrees.
- Prism: Ever notice your child’s eyes moving out of focus, or have they been diagnosed with an eye disease? If so, this will be there.
- Add: If additional magnification is needed in their glasses, your child’s prescription will have an “add” value, something that’s common for those who need bifocals, progressives or reading glasses.
Galo Andrade, Optician and Myopia Control Specialist at GC Optics, explains that having the right prescription information on hand is key, especially when it comes to the pupillary distance (PD) measurement. “[PD] marks exactly where the center of the eye is in the lenses,” he says. “Vision won’t be perfect without this number. You can ask your ophthalmologist/optometrist when writing the prescription if they can share the PD with you. There may be a fee, but it’s important to have this very exact measurement for the most precise lens design.”
Look For Lens Features
Nicole Lord, vice president of merchandising and supply chain for My Eyelab, notes some features to look for, like a selection of lenses to suit your kid’s comfort level and lifestyle. For instance, “polycarbonate lenses are scratch-resistant and have UV protection built in,” she says. “ And the option to upgrade to blue light-blocking lenses is great for kids who spend a lot of time in front of screens.”
Consider Costs
Of course cost is another thing to keep in mind, but it’s important to look beyond the initial price tag. Make note of the retailer’s return policy, any warranties and whether or not they accept insurance or HSA or FSA. And while some glasses retailers don’t work directly with insurance companies, many plans offer a stipend to reimburse vision purchases as out-of-network expenses, so it’s worth taking a closer look at your benefits (pun intended).
If this isn’t your child’s first pair of glasses, also consider how well they’ve handled the previous pairs. If they tend to lose them, or are too young to take proper care of them, you may want to opt for the most affordable glasses or examine the warranty extra close.
Note The Return And Warranty Policies
As with any online purchase, it’s important to note the brand’s return and warranty policies. With glasses, this is especially important because a pair that feels uncomfortable (whether it’s the prescription or frame style) becomes a waste of money. Since glasses orders are customized, most return policies have limited terms; for instance, some retailers only allow exchanges, some are only for the first order and you usually have to make any return or exchange decisions within a certain timeframe. If your child is accident-prone (or, just being a kid) also look at warranty information, as some retailers will replace lenses or frames that get broken or scratched. We’ve briefly outlined each retailer’s policy above, but be sure to double-check it before clicking “buy.”
Involve Your Kid
Finally, it’s crucial to choose a set of frames that your child will actually wear. “Emotionally, it’s critical to ensure your child plays an active part of the journey,” says Doug Zarkin, CMO of Pearle Vision. “To help ease the emotional transition that many kids face, encourage your child to find a pair that they feel good about,” he says.
How To Check The Fit Of Kids’ Glasses Online
Andrade says that fit is the number one most important aspect of choosing glasses for your kid. “Parents need to be fit detectives and check all aspects of it,” he says, and points out key areas to watch out for:
- Temple: The arms should fit comfortably along the sides of the head, as tightness “will cause discomfort and headaches,” he says.
- Bridge: The bridge, which rests across the top of the nose, should also sit securely without pinching or falling down.
- Frame: “If the frame is slipping constantly, it is too loose,” he says. “Depending on the shape of their nose, some kids need glasses with nose pads to keep the frame in place.”
- Arm length: The arms of the glasses “should contour just behind the ear. If they’re extending further, the arm is not the right fit,” he says.
Shopping for kids’ glasses online isn’t as easy as picking up the rest of their school supplies, but it can save you an extra trip to the eye doctor and in many cases a good chunk of money. The best advice: Stick to a retailer that has a return policy or warranty you’re comfortable with, and take advantage of onsite live chat features or customer service numbers to ask questions along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions About Buying Children’s Eye Glasses Online
How Do I Know If My Kid Needs Glasses?
The truth is, unfortunately, you might not know. That’s according to Dr. Valerie Kattouf, Pediatric OD, optometry professor and medical reviewer for All About Vision. “The most important thing for parents to understand is that your child may need a vision correction but may not show any symptoms,” she said. There are some telltale signs that you can look out for, like squinting, blinking, eye rubbing and getting close to books or digital devices, and if they complain about frequent headaches, eye strain, and fatigue, it’s time to speak with their doctor.
Kattouf adds that children with eye issues also often struggle in school with reading and have poor fine motor skills. But kids are great at hiding things, so regular visits to the doctor are always recommended.
Can You Order Kids’ Prescription Glasses Online?
As we’ve demonstrated above, it’s more than simple and possible to order prescription glasses online, and it’s something that Kattouf supports, but with a caveat. “I always feel that the best care is given when the spectacle prescribed is ordered at the office of the prescribing doctor,” she said. When you order online at your doctor’s office, they can weigh in on your choices and you can avoid the frustration of being charged for an additional office visit if what you order doesn’t work out.
Are Online Glasses Safe?
Online glasses are often the same ones you’d find in a store or at your doctor’s office, so they’re certainly safe for your child. Kattouf stresses, however, that parents should always “research the quality of the ophthalmic lens material and be certain that polycarbonate lenses (shatterproof) are prescribed for your child,” since kids tend to break theirs.
She adds that prescriptions with additional needs and considerations, like bifocals, “should be handled by your doctor’s practice,” because it’s hard for kids to understand or verbalize if something is off.
How Should I Choose Kids’ Eyeglass Frames?
Kattouf stresses that frames that fit well are “gravely important” for kids and says that it’s “critical” for parents to work with a trained optician to know what their child’s proper fit is ahead of ordering online. If your child’s frames seem too wide for their face, slip down their nose or don’t sit straight next to the temple, you might not have the right fit, she adds.
Their eyes should be in the center of the frame, and sometimes, with heavier prescriptions, an elastic band that loops around the back of their head is needed to help keep the frames up. “There are endless considerations in a proper fitting frame,” says Kattouf, so spending time with their doctor to get every aspect of the fit right is paramount to them actually wearing them and being comfortable in them.
How Do I Keep My Kid From Breaking Or Losing Their Glasses?
Kattouf’s favorite phrase that she gives to parents to reiterate to their kids is: “If it’s not on your face, then put it in the case.”
She suggests teaching kids early on that their glasses are important to their eye health and general happiness. When glasses are removed frequently, there’s a better chance an accident will happen and they’ll come home with a smashed lens.
Kattouf recommends having several eyeglass cases around the house and in their backpack, so that there’s always a protective place for them to keep their glasses when they absolutely have to come off. Parents might also consider buying a pair of flexible frames that are much harder to break.