How to Choose Eyewear for the Whole Family

 

One of the most overlooked aspects of family health is eyesight. Statistics show that more than a fourth of households with an annual income exceeding £100,000 and a third of households with an annual income of more than £90,000 have gone more than two years without getting an eye test. Despite having access to resources for medical intervention, people tend to overlook the importance of getting their eyes checked regularly. It’s worth addressing this inattention because research has linked good eye health with better quality of life. 

 

Getting the whole family’s vision checked is simply the first step, after which you must incorporate better habits and helpful tools into your routine. Whether you are getting protective eyewear or prescription spectacles for your family, it can be a massive boon to their ability to enjoy and participate in various activities. Parents need to pay careful consideration when choosing eyewear in a polluted digital age where variety can feel confusing!

Picking eyeglasses for the family

Eyeglasses are the most common prescriptive eyewear. In a survey of European men and women, the UK saw 77% of women and 68% of men wearing glasses and contacts. Additionally, more than a fourth of children aged two to 17 need to wear glasses regularly. 

 

For mums, the first hurdle is getting dad to wear glasses. According to the Association of Optometrists, men are less likely to get their eyes checked or update existing prescriptions for vision correction. A good pair of men’s eyeglasses can do wonders in encouraging your partner to keep his eyesight in check. The fashionable and timeless sensibility of a Wayfarer or Clubmaster from Ray-Ban Optics is a reliable and stylish choice, with quality acetate and metal to ensure durability even with daily use. You can also get blue light-blocking lenses to protect the eyes from from artificial lights, screens, and digital devices that can cause eye strain and negatively affect the circadian rhythm contributing to insomnia. 

 

Women should also be concerned about their own vision since there is a higher rate of eye diseases among females, globally. Data from the Assil Gaur Eye Institute found that women are 8% more likely to be blind and 15% more likely to have moderate to severe vision impairment. Notably, brands like Ray-Ban have many unisex designs and more feminine models like Balorette or Miriam, so you can opt for matching glasses with your partner.

 

When leading by example and normalising the use of glasses, it becomes easier to get your kids to follow suit if they need glasses too. Introducing them to stylish frames makes the transition smoother for teens who might be more self-conscious about their appearance. For children who have a more challenging time keeping their glasses on and forgetting them, it helps to choose fun models built for kids so they take extra care of them. Emphasising both its practical value and enjoyable accessory aspect can help instill more care into taking care of their eyewear. 

Choosing sunglasses for the family 

Sunglasses are just as crucial for vision health since they protect the eyes from glare, debris, and UV rays outside the house. Mums will want to pack a set for the whole family, which will be easier to impose since many styles can fit every family member’s tastes. If you choose a reputable brand with actual 100% UVA and UVB protection, you can get your children to choose the colour, frame, and style they like. 

If you want to balance practicality with style as a mum, there are tons of women’s sunglasses to pick from. You can also help teens learn which frame styles look best with their face shape. Some great brands for sunglasses include Oakley, Prada, Tom Ford, and Burberry, which have enough variations in style for your family’s needs.

 

NASA has noted that UV radiation has significantly increased in the last three decades, especially in places at higher latitudes. This includes mid-latitude locations in the northern hemisphere, such as the UK. For your family’s wellness, you should look for labels that indicate UV protection and anti-glare coating. This helps protect your eyes from reflective surfaces when you’re outside. This is also essential for young children, whose eyes are more light-sensitive.

Considering contacts for the family 

Your children or partner may also prefer to wear contact lenses if they feel it fits their lifestyle better. Of course, there are many considerations when choosing lenses for your family, as these are still medical devices directly sitting on top of their eyes. 

According to the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, fitting for powered lenses must be done by a registered optometrist or dispensing optician with approved qualifications or certification in the right FOC sector. You can easily check this by looking up if they have the designation of contact lens optician (CLO). Because of the increased risk of microbial keratitis with contact lens use, you should also ensure your family member is prepared for the maintenance and care needed to keep the eyes safe from infection. 

It will be easier for an adult or older teen to grasp the hygiene practices necessary for safe contact lens usage, but you should check if your child is prepared for the responsibility before going down this route. This includes avoiding common habits found in kids, like rubbing their eyes and touching their faces after interacting with dirty outside objects. Once you’ve addressed this, you can rely on comfortable options like Acuvue Moist or Focus Dailies. These are made with light materials that are softer while also providing hydration and some UV protection for the eyes. Dailies are a good choice as they are disposed of after use, so you have fewer complications with storage and sterilisation and don’t have them sitting around making them a good style to try out until you’re sure you will use contacts regularly.