Prescription glasses + sun...

[Singledad]

Okay, it just hit me today that my DD (5) cannot just get away with a cheap pair of sunglasses like last year. She has prescription glasses now and does need them all the time. So, what should I do about the sun in the parks? What option do you think would look the least silly in photos, and yet won't have me chronically having to futz with her glasses?

Should I: get flip-able clip ons, so she can flip them up when inside? These can looks silly in photos... (this is me with them back in 2004 for an example:

)

this would be the easiest on me, and her. Least likely to have anything lost either.

or should I go with clip-ons, that do not flip? I am worried I would spend a lot of time pulling them on and off, and end up losing the clipons. but, if this is what people think I should do, that is what I shall do.

Should I get slip-on's? as in, those sunglasses that are large enough to slip on over her current pair? once again, I am scared we would lose them, and/or they would like crazy in photos.

or should I break down and see if I can get a cheap pair of prescription sunglasses? If I do this, I would then have two pairs of script glasses to make sure not to lose. this I think is also the most expensive option.


I know for myself, last year I only brought my prescription sunglasses and was half blind inside. I am not sure if I am going to do the same thing this year (most likely not) or if I will do the flips again, or what. I know I *hate* the slip ons, as I don't like the contact points on my face.

Okay, give me tips, tricks, suggestions! We do have quite a few indoor activities planned (namely meals, we have the dxdp plan the first half of our stay) so it is a bigger deal this year than last.

oh, and contacts are NOT an option for anyone. DD is too young, and I have a glare issue that cannot be fixed with contacts. (this is why I can even get script sunglasses, they are medically necessary for me. )

 

[Swmr359]

Have you considered a hat or visor?

 

[DaniB]

I vote for transitional prescription glasses! If I'm using the correct word?

I didn't want the bother of switching between my regular glasses & prescription glasses every few minutes. Too much!

So my husband suggested transitional. Indoors, it looks like I'm wearing regular glasses. When I step outdoors, the lenses darken (slowly - not all at once) to different degrees depending how bright it is outside. They never darken as much (as dark) as prescription sunglasses, but definately enough that it blocks the bright sunlight out. Most people think I'm wearing prescription sunglasses when they see me. I'm often surprised by how dark they get when I take them off and look at the lenses.

I originally purchased these for our Sept Disney trip last year. I haven't taken them off since we came home!

 

[dragonfly08]

I vote for transitional prescription glasses!

If this is a possibility for the OP, I'd definitely consider it. I've worn glasses for a long time and finally got transition lenses last year. All I could say the first time I stepped outside in the sun was "why in heck did I wait so long?????" MUCH more convenient than flip up lenses, switching between regular glasses and sunglasses, wearing a hat/visor, etc.

 

[Singledad]

Have you considered a hat or visor?

that will not be good enough for june. the sun reflects off everything. but thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Singledad]

I vote for transitional prescription glasses! !

I thought those would be out of our budget, I already spent too much on our actual disney trip. Plus, I've heard some stories about them refusing to transition back after being in the sun too long.

not tossing out the suggestion, just saying why it didn't make the list.

 

[*Belle*]

My DS has transition glasses. He does enjoy having them (his choice). Going indoors they tend to change back quick enough. He does have a problem riding in a car, he will at that point change over to his regular sunglasses. His doctor did recommend clip on sunglasses. He would have no part of that. So he's happy enough with his change between the two routine. This may change once he's old enough to drive. Let's just hold on to his childhood for now.


Belle

 

[dawnn12]

I have a few pairs of clip on sun glasses(I keep one in my reg car, one in my school bus(im a driver) and I keep one in my purse) I bought them at walmart for $10-12 they have different colored ones. The one I like the most has a brownish tint(I can see better with the brownish one then the blackish tint ones) they have their own case you can put/carry them in. I had the ones you clip on and flip up they break very easy right where they flip. hth and have a great time in disney

 

[nicki.momof3]

I have had a number of pairs of glasses with transition lenses and I would highly recommend them. They switch back in a few minutes and are great for daily use.

 

[kycanonist]

How much do those transitional lenses generally cost?

 

[bam1004]

We are in the same boat this year too. DS7 now has glasses and we are trying to decide what to do for him. I might have to check into transitions.

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

i have trasitions and love them...altho they are still slow to change, but not as slow as they were when the started out on the market back in 01. we saw a couple with a little girl about dd's age last year with them ad they said it didnt bother her at all. dd's script just got changed and we ordered new ones last week with the transitions in them...can't give you an opinion tho as were still waiting on them. but of course in regards to pics, they will be dark and look like sunglasses on her- even in overcast days.

 

[Minniemouse07]

that will not be good enough for june. the sun reflects off everything. but thanks for the suggestion!

Dd (9) took her first trip to WDW w/ her glasses last June and did fine w/ a hat.

She would have preferred cute sunglasses but since that wasn't doable she did great w/ a hat she picked out the first day

That all said, we are headed down to cruise the Dream and another 5 nights at WDW this summer. Dd will be turning 10yo just a few weeks before we leave so we've been talking about getting her daily disposable contact lenses.

The eye doctor offered them when she got her glasses (at 7yo!) explaining that most parents insist on them even as young as 4yo!! We passed on them then but I think she will be okay w/ contacts at 10yo.

I would just go w/ the hat... it really did work fine.

 

[Pink Flamingo]

I wonder if there are different types of transition lenses. I had a pair (purchased in 2009), but didn't like them because they stayed too dark for too long when I went from outside to inside. Last summer I switched to the clip on's & have been very pleased. However, mine aren't the flip kind & keeping up with the clip when I remove it is a bit of a pain. I like the idea of the flip clip on.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

The first trip we took with DS in glasses he had magnetic clip-on sunglasses. He hated them, said they were too heavy. OK, fine. He mostly just squinted.

Next trip I ordered cheap prescription sunglasses from Zenni Optical. They were fine, certainly good enough for our purposes. He got tired of switching back and forth and again, elected to just squint.

We tried to have him fitted for contacts last year but he got really frustrated with the lady at the eye Dr's office. She was really abrupt and got aggravated when he didn't master getting them in and out on the first try. He finally said he was done, got up and walked out. No contacts. Another trip of squinting.

He will go for his eye exam next month and if he does decide to try contacts again we are NOT going back to the same Dr's office. They just have the ONE lady who does contact fittings/trainings and I will NOT be going through that again.

So I guess my point is no matter what you try, your DD may balk and end up just squinting the whole time.

 

[andersonsc]

We just went thru this same thing yesterday! My 13 yr old wanted transitions for our Disney trip and cruise. Once we found out they take 5min (what the saleslady told us) to change back from dark to clear, he didn't want them. Thought it would be too annoying to take so long to clear. I was then going to use insurance to pay for regular glasses/lenses and then just have dark lenses put in old frames. To do this would have cost $150-200 just for the darkened lenses!! We found clip on sunglasses at Lenscrafters fpr $30 that stayed on well with him playing tennis yesterday. They are a little tricky to take on and off but he said he prefered this to any other choice and it was the cheapest.

 

[Minniemouse07]

He will go for his eye exam next month and if he does decide to try contacts again we are NOT going back to the same Dr's office. They just have the ONE lady who does contact fittings/trainings and I will NOT be going through that again.

I'm hoping we have a better experience!

Plus if it comes down to it, I can help dd learn how to wear her contacts, I've been wearing them for over 25yrs!

 

[*Belle*]

Also what I should have mentioned is that DS went with the brown transition tinted lens, not the dark tint. He has antique copper frames.

 

[readytogotodisney]

I don't know if you want to go this route or not, but what about a 2nd pair of prescription glasses that are tinted? I got a pair on coastalcontacts.com late last fall and love them, plus they only cost me $40, including shipping. I know there are other websites like them out there too.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I'm hoping we have a better experience!

Plus if it comes down to it, I can help dd learn how to wear her contacts, I've been wearing them for over 25yrs!

DH and I don't have glasses or contacts, so we are no help. The thing was, they weren't going to allow us to leave the office with the contacts until he demonstrated proficiency with them! I have several friends who said they would be happy to help him, but we weren't allowed to bring the contacts home. The pediatrician said that's ridiculous, but that is how that particular eye office handles things.

OP, you might check and see if any of the optical places are running specials like buy 1, get 1 free. I think Sears sometimes has 2 for $99. We have gotten a "back up" pair for DS at Target Optical for $60. I would shop around and see what the different options will cost before deciding.