How to Find Fun, Durable, and Affordable Kids' Prescription Glasses

Prescription glasses are a big deal for kids. Better vision can be life-changing for children and teens, and a stylish pair of glasses can also be a big confidence boost at any age. Parents looking for ideal frame and lens options for their kids have a lot to consider and plenty of top brands to choose from.

However, we think Pair is the way to go for any kids’ eyewear. With helpful features like a virtual try-on and free returns, we make it easier than ever to find glasses that your kids will love. Plus, our unique Top Frames make each kid’s glasses fully personalizable with plenty of fun patterns and styles.

Let’s take a closer look at everything you need to know about how to find kids’ prescription glasses and sunglasses.

What to Look for in Kids’ Prescription Glasses

If you want any hope of convincing your little one to wear their eyewear, then your child's glasses need to be fun. But anyone who’s ever met a kid knows that even if your little one loves their new pair of glasses, there’s still a chance they’ll accidentally break or misplace them.

And because kids are constantly growing and changing, their eyes (and their pupillary distance) are also changing. They may need a trip to the eye doctor and a new set of prescription lenses as often as every six to 12 months. So beyond being fun, kids’ eyeglasses also need to be durable to prevent mishaps and affordable in case you need to replace them sooner, rather than later.

Plus, kids’ eyes are constantly changing over time, which means they might need a new pair of prescription lenses within a year or less of their last eye appointment. If that’s the case, seeing a pediatric optician and getting a new prescription is a must.

If your child has a high prescription or needs special lenses like bifocals, they might need a checkup as often as every six months. After the obligatory eye appointment is taken care of, you and your kids can have fun picking out their next pair of glasses.

We’re sure your kiddo will have lots to say about which eyeglass frames they think are the coolest. (Perhaps they want a sparkly pair or a set of neon frames!) And while they have their eyes on style, you can keep your eyes on the big picture — like finding frames that can survive your little one's big energy. Here’s what to look for to make sure your kids’ prescription glasses can keep up with your kid.

• Cellulose acetate frames: A bioplastic made from fibers found in wood, hemp, cotton, or other plant sources, cellulose acetate is lightweight, hypoallergenic, and extremely durable. This material is flexible and resistant to temperature changes, which makes it less likely to break. It’s a much better choice for kids’ glasses than bendable metal frames or fragile rimless glasses. Also, because acetate frames don’t have separate nose pads, there’s one less thing to break off and feel uncomfortable on your kid’s face.

• Polycarbonate lenses: Another strong but lightweight plastic, polycarbonate lenses are impact-resistant, so they’re less likely to break if your child drops them. They’re also extremely thin, which makes them weigh less on your little one’s nose.

• Spring-loaded hinges: Using spring-loaded hinges to connect the temples on a pair of glasses to the frames, which makes the temples more flexible so they can bend but not break. Spring hinges are the most durable option for rambunctious kids.

Think of those first three features as your non-negotiables. Any good pair of kids’ prescription glasses should have these features to make them kid-proof.

These next three features are additional options you can consider in your quest to find the perfect kids’ glasses. While they won’t make or … ahem … break your child’s glasses, they can reduce eye strain, which can protect your child’s eye health and make the glasses more comfortable in certain scenarios. Here are optional upgrades to consider for your kids’ prescription glasses.

• Blue light filtering: Blue light glasses help ease eye strain when your little one uses electronics. For today’s digital-native kids, blue light-filtering lenses are a great way to protect against an overabundance of screens.

• UV protection: Sure, you can purchase a separate pair of prescription sunglasses for your child, but buying two pairs of glasses will double your costs. As an alternative, look for transition lenses, aka light-responsive lenses. These options will get darker when your child goes outside. You can also choose clip-on, non-prescription sunglass lenses, like our Sun Tops, which fit over the top of your child’s glasses frames and providepolarized protection.

• Ear hooks: Add a set of easy-to-use, silicone Ear Hooks to help ensure the pair stays on your kiddo’s face and doesn’t slide down their nose —how annoying would that be?

Now that you know what to consider when you shop for kids’ prescription glasses, let’s take a look at a few eyeglass frames that are worthy of your kid’s consideration.

5 Funtastic Frames for Kids’ Prescription Glasses

One of the best ways to get your kid excited about glasses is to find frames they love. Sometimes, that’s as easy as letting them choose their favorite color. Other times, they may need a little reminder that some of the coolest people of all time have worn glasses — umm, Harry Potter, Superman, Supergirl, it’s a who’s who of kids’ heroes.

Choosing glasses for your child is easy when you have a wide selection of styles they’ll love inspired by their heroes. With Top Frames from Pair, that’s exactly what you get. These unique accessories transform kids’ eyeglasses into something completely new with exciting patterns that are officially licensed by the franchises behind their favorite characters.

These Base Frames have tiny magnets inside that allow your child to clip on a pair of Top Frames in colorful designs, including DC, Marvel, Sesame Street, and Harry Potter-themed designs. Your kid’s new glasses will be more fun than their favorite toy! There are even Sun Tops that transform your kid’s prescription glasses into sunglasses for just $30.

Each pair of our kids’ glasses is made with single-vision lenses crafted from durable, impact-resistant material so they can hold up under the wear and tear of life for even the highest-energy kids. Plus, getting glasses that perfectly match your child’s prescription is easy — all you have to do is import their specs into the Pair website.

1. The Cedro

The rectangular frame shape on The Cedro is flattering on most little faces. Because children have rounder faces than adults, rectangular eyeglass frames provide contrast and highlight your little one’s beautiful eyes. Plus, Superman and Supergirl both wore rectangular eyeglasses, so that makes these frames super cool.

The frame size is appropriate for kids ages 5 to 9. Let your child choose their favorite color for their eyeglass frames, then pair them with some Superman Top Frames to complete your kid’s super style.

2. The Serra

Another pair for little kids, The Serra glasses frames fit ages 5 to 9. Much like cat-eye glasses, round glasses look great on oval faces, as well as rectangular and oblong faces. This sweet pair of specs is a best seller because it makes the cutest kiddos look even cuter. Pair it with fun, kid-friendly Top Frames, like theSesame Street designs.

3. The Otero

Ideal as girls’ or boys’ glasses, these frames are designed for pre-teens, age 8 to 12. The Otero frames have a stylish, squarish shape that looks great on round faces. For an extra splash of fun, pair them with glow-in-the-dark or sun-changing Top Frames (they change colors in different lighting!). And for sophisticated little ones (who are quick to tell you that they’re not little anymore), go fancy with some artful Van Gogh-inspired Top Frames.

4. The Twain

Named after a favorite literary figure, The Twain frames look great on bookworms and video gamers alike. And if your child is a bigger fan of Harry Potter than Huckleberry Finn, you can add a pair of Harry Potter Top Frames. The Twain are a great fit for ages 9 and older, and their shape — which is part way between a square and round frame — looks flattering on most faces.

5. The Larkin

These rectangular frames are another best seller. The Larkin frames look great on round, oval, and heart-shaped faces, and they’re the perfect fit for older kids, ages 9 and up. They’re a great way for your growing athlete to support their favorite team by sporting NBA,MLB, or NHL Top Frames.

Find a Pair With Fun To Spare

Pair makes finding a new pair of glasses for your child or teen more fun than ever. Our prescription frames are made from durable, impact-resistant materials that can hold up against everyday wear, but they’re not just practical. With Top Frames inspired by your kids’ favorite heroes and characters, there’s no better pair for them than Pair.

The wide selection of Top Frames makes it easy for your kiddo to find glasses that perfectly match their personality and interests. Plus, you can get a Top Frame for around $25, making each one a fantastic gift for your little one on a birthday or holiday.

In addition, we make the process of finding glasses for the little one in your life even smoother with free shipping and free returns. If you and your kiddo aren’t sure you’ve found the right glasses, feel free to give them a try for 30 days risk-free.