How can I protect my toddler's glasses from scratches?

Question

My toddler got glasses 6 weeks ago. His lenses and frames are all scratched up. Any ideas how I can protect them from more scratches?

Answer 1

Polycarbonate is a very high impact resistant material. Unfortunately its not hugely scratch resistant and its not a very good quality for actual quality of vision. It is the densest optical material and people with higher scripts can normally not see through it very well. (http://www.starreloaders.com/edhall/abbe...

The main reason to use polycarbonate for a toddler is due to the high impact resistance, but also probably because it was cheap. Scratch resistant coatings do exist but they can be quite expensive.

For a toddler to scratch lenses in under 6 weeks is really very normal. As he gets used to wearing the glasses he may learn to be more careful with them. Its important that you and your optometrist put some time and effort into teaching him to look after them.

Make sure you take the frames back to the optometrist every few months to get them adjusted. If they get wonky they may fall off his face more often and hence get more scratched.

When the lenses need replacing you could look into getting a higher quality material from a different supplier. I suggest these: http://www.hoyanet.net/index.php?SID=486...

They are more scratch resistant, equally as impact resistant as polycarbonate and they are also much clearer to look through.

Answer 2

The anti scratch coating they put on couldn't have been a very good one....or they forgot to do it.

A good anti scratch coat should stand up to childs play a lot longer than that.

They should certainly be guaranteed still.  I suggest you take them back and have them made over before they get even worse and affect the little one's vision.

My lab gives me a 2 year warranty against scratching, so there should be at the very least a 1 year warranty anywhere else.

Answer 3

Most places should offer scratch resistant lenses on child lenses.  Did you get him polycarbonate lenses (better) or plastic?  

Also, is he dropping them a lot?  You may have to use the straps that will hold his glasses on his head.  You may even have to use prescription sports goggles until he is capable of being more responsible with his glasses.