Free downloadable guides

Written by For Little Eyes authors, these guides are available for free for you to download.  They are provided under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0) license.  You are welcome to print, use, share and distribute these.  Please just keep the attribution information on the pdfs.

• Your young child in glasses.

  

    A guide covering the basics of having a child in glasses.  Includes basics of fit, rules for handling glasses, tips for getting your child to wear glasses, and what the numbers on a prescription mean. One page, front and back.

  ---

• Tu hijo/a joven con lentes

  

  Con mucho gusto les presento nuestra guía “Tu hijo/a con lentes” ahora disponible en español! Muchas gracias a la Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County por hacer posible la traducción. Es gratis bajarla, imprimirla, y compartirla!

  ---

• Finding glasses for your child. 

  

  A guide to take with you when you’re shopping for glasses. Includes what to look for in fit, and basics of some of the options you’ll be given. One page, front and back.

  ---

• Caring for ____’s Glasses (Flexible frames version)

  

  A print out to give to your child’s care provider that gives information on how to care for a child’s glasses.  There are two versions of this guide, both give general rules, instructions on cleaning glasses, and space for additional instructions.  The Flexible frames version includes specific information about flexible frames.  One page, front only.

  ---

• Eye exam notes

  

  A page to bring with you to your child’s eye exam.  It includes space for you to fill out in advance, and space for your notes so you can remember what happened.

  ---

• Coloring pages

  Take a look at our collection of coloring pages that feature characters in glasses and our patching charts.

---

 Below are links to resources that I’ve found to be helpful. Please leave a comment or send me a note if you know of other sources that would be good additions.  You may also want to check our archives for posts about specific topics.

• Young children and glasses
• Children’s vision
• Children’s visual disorders
• Glossaries and other reference resources
• Parenting kids with health issues
• Children with visual impairments
• Children’s glasses vendors
• Financial aid
• Communities, forums, and listservs
• Blogs (now its own page!)

~ ~ ~

Young Children and Glasses

• essential reading: A Child’s Eyes: Children and Glasses – a fantastic site written by a Master-certified optician who specializes in fitting and dispensing children’s glasses.  This page has links to tips on getting children to wear glasses, explanations of the types of frames and types of lenses, and information on how to know if your child’s glasses fit correctly.
• Helping Kids Adjust to Wearing Glasses – an article on helping your child feel better about wearing glasses.  Targeted more at parents of older kids, there are still some helpful tips.
• Will My Child Actually Wear These Glasses– a book by pediatric eyecare and eyewear authority, Katheryn Schramm.  The book explains optical terms and techniques in a straight-forward, easily understood manner. She offers advice on frame and lens selection and details the technique of persuasion used to teach any aged child, regardless of mental or physical limitation, to successfully wear glasses.buy it from KatherynSchramm.com | buy it from Amazon.com

back to top

~ ~ ~

Children’s Vision

• Children’s Vision: What Parents Need to Know – a collection of information from All About Vision that covers a whole range of topics on children’s vision. All About Vision is owned by Access Media Group and the pages are written by journalists with experience in eye care. Health related articles are approved by one or more eye doctors on their Advisory Board.
• Pediatric Ophthalmology Video – a great video about pediatric ophthalmology.  One of the best explanations of how vision and refraction can be measured in very young patients.  There is a companion text chapter on pediatric ophthalmology.
• Your Baby’s Eyes – an overview of vision in infants, how vision is tested and assessed, and common problems. From the University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary.

• Affects of Albinism on vision – from NOAH (National Organization of Albinism and Hypopigmentation), a brief description of how albinism affects vision and links to more information.
• Albinism : Pediatric Visual Diagnosis Fact Sheet (pdf) – a very thorough and easy to understand factsheet from Blind Babies Foundation.
• About Albinism – from the Vision for Tomorrow Foundation.  Contains links to an FAQ and a guide for those just diagnosed.  In particular, check out their page on Albinism’s impact on vision.

Aniridia

• Aniridia Foundation – New Parent Guide – a guide for parents who have just received the diagnosis of aniridia for their child.
• About Aniridia – from the Vision for Tomorrow Foundation.  Contains links to an FAQ and a guide for those just diagnosed.

Amblyopia

• Amblyopia – a good overview of the causes and treatments for amblyopia.  From the National Library of Medicine.
• Amblyopia – information on Amblyopia from the National Eye Institute. It includes links to results of research into treatment for amblyopia.
• Amblyopia – from Kidshealth.org

• Pediatric Cataracts – information on pediatric cataracts from the Pediatric Cataracts & Glaucoma Family Association.  You may also want to check their Knowledgebase for more articles on cataracts.
• Congenital Cataracts – a good overview of congenital and pediatric cataracts from All About Vision.

Cortical Visual Impairment

• Cortical Foundation – dedicated to providing services to educate, advocate, support, and improve awareness of cortical malformations, including Cortical Visual Impairment.
• Cortical Visual Impairment – Pediatric Visual Diagnosis Fact Sheet (pdf) – a very thorough and easy to understand factsheet from Blind Babies Foundation.
• Little Bear Sees – The Little Bear Sees foundation was started by a family whose son was diagnosed with CVI.  Their goal is to pass along information to other families who are dealing with CVI.

• Pediatric Glaucoma – information on pediatric glaucoma, also from the Pediatric Cataracts & Glaucoma Family Association.  You may also want to check their Knowledgebase for more articles on glaucoma.
• Children’s Glaucoma Foundation – a non-profit dedicated to supporting children with glaucoma.
• Grajewski Lyra Foundation – for children with glaucoma

• American Nystagmus Network and the Nystagmus Network (European) – information about dealing with Nystagmus.  The Nystagmus Network has two books about nystagmus for children.

• Facts About Retinopathy of Prematurity – a great starting guide from the National Eye Institute, which includes information on the stages and treatment of ROP. Also of note are the sections on how to find more information, particularly on medical studies and medical literature.
• Retinopathy of Prematurity :  Pediatric Visual Diagnosis Fact Sheet (pdf) – a very thorough and easy to understand factsheet from Blind Babies Foundation.

Retinal Diseases (includes Retinitis Pigmentosa, Sticklers Syndrome, Lebers Congenital Amaurosis, and others)

• Retinal Diseases :  Pediatric Visual Diagnosis Fact Sheet (pdf) – includes information on Retinitis Pigmentosa, Sticklers Syndrome, Lebers Congenital Amaurosis, and many other diseases – a very thorough and easy to understand factsheet from Blind Babies Foundation.

• About Strabismus – an easy-to-read site from the Optometrists network about strabismus. Includes links to learn about different types of strabismus and treatment options.

back to top

~ ~ ~

Glossaries and other reference resources

• Glossary of parts of glasses – all the terms for glasses parts (including lenses).
• Glossary of eye and vision conditions – from the American Optometric Association.  It has short, easy to read definitions, and many terms have links to longer explanations.
• Glossary of vision and visual health terms for parents – another page from the Optometrists network with definitions of many of the terms you may run across.
• Glossary of Eye Terminology – definitions of common terms, excerpted from the Dictionary of Eye Terminology.
• Glossary of terms specific to pediatric glaucoma and cataracts – from the Pediatric Glaucoma & Cataract Family Association.
• Dictionary for Parents of Children with Disabilities – originally developed by the South Dakota Special Education Programs.  The dictionary contains terminology used in the fields of testing/evaluation, early intervention, special education, medical services, therapeutic services, family supports, vocational training, independent living and guardianship.
• Eye Resources on the Internet – this is an extremely thorough list of Internet resources about vision compiled by the Association of Vision Science Librarians.

back to top

~ ~ ~

Parenting kids with health issues

• Parenting children with health issues : essential tools, tips, and tactics for raising kids with chronic illness, medical conditions & special healthcare needs – this book comes highly recommended from one of our readers. One of the stories in the book is about a young child who doesn’t want to wear glasses
  • find it at a library | buy it from Amazon
• Early Intervention – Early intervention services are specialized health, educational, and therapeutic services designed to meet the needs of infants and toddlers, from birth through age two, who have a developmental delayor disability, and their families. Children with vision impairment (low-vision, partial blindness or blindness due to an eye disorder) can benefit from early intervention.  It is worth noting that if your child’s vision is fully corrected by glasses, then he or she does not have a vision impairment.
  • Fact Sheet on Blindness / Vision Impairment
  • State-specific information
• Dictionary for Parents of Children with Disabilities – originally developed by the South Dakota Special Education Programs.  The dictionary contains terminology used in the fields of testing/evaluation, early intervention, special education, medical services, therapeutic services, family supports, vocational training, independent living and guardianship.

back to top

~ ~ ~

Children with Visual Impairment

Visual impairment is a specific term whichmeans an impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects a child’s educational performance. The term includes both partial sight and blindness. (Definition from National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities)

• Wonderbaby – Wonderbaby is an amazing resource for parents of children with visual impairments and multiple disabilities.  The site includes articles, news, a list of reader-submitted resources, and an wonderful Q&A page where readers can submit questions or answers.  Highly recommended.  Wonderbaby is funded by the Perkins School for the Blind.
• Through Scarlett’s Eyes – A fantastic community out of the UK supporting parents of children with vision impairment.  The site provides information as well as a platform for creating blogs and sharing your own story.
• Fred’s Head from APH – A blog from the American Printing House for the Blind.  This blog contains links to resources, tips, and resources of interest for and by blind or visually impaired people.
• FamilyConnect – is provided by the American Foundation for the Blind and the National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments to provide information for families with visually impaired children.  You can browse information by eye disorder or age ranges.
• 4Sight – an organization that connects parents of children with vision impairments with services and resources.
• LowVision – a collection of resources and information for people with low vision.  This site is not targeted at children, but it does have a lot of helpful information.

back to top

~ ~ ~

Children’s Glasses Vendors

• Children’s Eyeworks – glasses for children available online.
• Dilli Dalli – offers both wire frames as well as flexible, plastic frames.  Dilli Dalli frames must be purchased through an optical shop.
• Erin’s World Frames – frames specifically designed for children with Down syndrome.
• Itsy Bitsy Eyewear – children’s eyewear in Europe
• Jonas Paul Eyewear – children’s eyewear with free at-home try-ons.
• Kids Bright Eyes – children’s glasses frames and patches available online.
• Miraflex – recommended by another reader as flexible, not expensive, and lots of cute colors.
• Peeps Eyewear – frames for girls ages 3 – 7.  A line for boys is coming soon.  Also a reseller of Miraflex.  Each order includes the book Princesses Wear Glasses (reviewed here).
• Solo Bambini – recommended by a reader, these are inexpensive, cute, and indestructible. They may also have the best sizing names: itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny, toddler, scout, eagle scout, and scout master.
• Tomato Glasses / Tomato Glasses UK– Glasses for children aged 1 – 12.  They have adjustable ear pieces.

• Thinking of ordering glasses online?  Check out our guide to ordering glasses for children online.

back to top

~ ~ ~

Financial Aid

• InfantSEE – a public health program from the American Optometric Association. Participating optometrists provide free vision assessments for children in their first year of life. The site includes information for parents on what to expect at the vision assessments, and a way to search for nearby participating optometrists.

• Financial Aid for Eye Care – a list of links to programs and resources that can help with the costs of eye exams, surgery, and glasses.

back to top

~ ~ ~

Communities, Forums, and Listservs

• Little Four Eyes facebook group – a group on facebook for this blog!  A space for us to share photos, stories, questions, etc more informally.  Now, over 5,000 members.

Communities for specific vision problems

• APHAKIC Support Group – a support group for parents and health care professionals caring for young children who have had cataracts. Stands for Association of Parents Having Kids in Contacts, but “despite the name, glasses-wearers are welcome, as well.”
• American Nystagmus Network – an email support group for those dealing with nystagmus and parents of children with nystagmus.
• Aniridic Family – a facebook group for people with aniridia and their families.
• Congenital Glaucoma Network – a network for all people affected by childhood glaucoma come to share their story
• Contact Connection – a facebook group specifically for teens and tweens with aphakia, who have dealt with cataracts, glaucoma, microthalmia or other related eye conditions.
• Cortical Visual Impairment – a group to help others understand and share ideas about cortical vision impairments and how it relates to learning.
• Magic Foundation: Septo Optic Dysplasia (SOD)/Optic Nerve Hypoplasia – information and links to other families with children with Septo Optic Dysplasia.
• PGCFA (Pediatric Glaucoma & Cataract Family Association) – has both an email support group and a bulletin board forum for family of children with glaucoma and / or cataracts.
• Thinking outside the lightbox – A safe place to share ideas and ask questions about vision therapy for your child with Cortical Visual Impairment.
• Vision Therapy Parents Unite – A group designed for parents of children who are or have done Vision Therapy.

General communitites

• BabyCenter Community group: Vision Problems – a group for parents with children with vision problems.
• Kids in Specs UK Support Group for Kids in Glasses – a facebook group  to ask questions and get support from others about glasses, vision, patching, contacts and all things glasses, especially for families in the UK.
• Little Peepers Ohio – a support group for children with vision issues, started by the parents of a boy with cataracts and Lowe syndrome. While the group is located in Ohio, they are open to members from anywhere.
• Prevent Blindness America Children and Eye Problems forum – mostly focused on strabismus and amblyopia issues for children.
• Sovoto – a forum for people who want to “expand awareness and understanding for the impact of developmental vision problems upon lives.”  Patients, parents, and doctors are welcome.
• FamilyConnect Community – provided by the American Foundation for the Blind and the National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments.  The community section includes blogs and message boards.

back to top