My child keeps breaking or losing glasses: seven questions to ask the optician

Glasses get sat on, dropped, bent in school bags and left on the bus. If your child has gone through two pairs in a year, you are not alone, and you are not failing. You just need a plan. Here are seven questions to ask at the counter.

1. What is the toughest material for this frame?

We have no named impact-resistant line to promise you, so we will not invent one. Ask the team about the toughest material available for the frame your child likes. The right answer depends on the frame as much as the lens.

2. Is the frame flexible and does it fit well?

A frame that is too loose slides off and gets dropped. One that is too tight gets taken off. Children's faces change quickly, so ask to see how the fit holds up and when it should be rechecked. Free lifetime custom fitting and adjustment means you can return as often as the frame needs.

3. Should we buy a spare pair?

For many families, a spare pair solves the problem before it starts. A child with a strong prescription or a child in myopia control cannot go days without glasses. Our guide to spare pairs for myopia control children covers the details.

4. Which lens can be ready fastest?

When glasses break on a Monday morning, speed matters. Opulens Advanced 1.60, Opulens Ultra 1.60 and Basic 1.50 are in stock and ready in 20 minutes. Prescription range and availability depend on the order, so confirm with the team.

5. What does the warranty cover?

Every pair has a 1-year warranty. Ask what counts as a defect and what counts as accidental damage, and what to bring back. Knowing this before the first break saves an argument later.

6. How do we keep them safe at school?

Practical habits work better than any product. A hard case in the school bag. A rule that glasses go in the case, not loose in a pocket. A strap or a band for sport. A spare pair in a drawer at school or with a trusted adult. Our guide on glasses for PE class and the playground has more.

7. Is the prescription still right?

If a child squints, holds a book close or sits near the board, the problem may be the prescription, not the child. Children's eyes change. A lost or broken pair is a good moment to ask whether the exam is due, rather than just reordering the same lens.

What not to do

• Do not let a child go without glasses because the new pair is not ready. Ask about a quick replacement.
• Do not repair a bent frame at home with pliers. Bring it in.
• Do not scold a child for the third break. Ask why it keeps happening. Is the fit loose? Is the frame the wrong shape for sport?

Your next step

Book a Vision7 eye test at your nearest Vision Express store. The seven-step exam confirms your child's current prescription, so a replacement pair is made against the right numbers.

Ask for Opulens Advanced 1.60 as a child's everyday pair or spare. It is in stock and ready in 20 minutes. Every pair has a 1-year warranty and free lifetime ultrasonic cleaning and custom fitting and adjustment.