Hi --

For a simple prescription it's fine to go to a cheap place like Hour
Eyes. For a more complicated prescription you're better off going to a
more expensive place, and do get you optomotrist to recommend one in
your area.

Get frames as inexpensive as possible. We've been getting ones for
about $80 plus the cost of the lenses.

If your child is very active get those things that attach to the
earpieces and go around the back of the head for loss-prevention. If
your child tends to lose or break things, and you're worried about the
glasses getting lost or broken, you may consider getting insurance. If
you can afford to replace the glasses, don't get insurance.

I remember asking about scratching the lenses and how easily the lenses
would break, and then choosing lenses based on the answers. But I don't
recall the answers, just the questions.

Don't forget to clean the lenses regularly or the glasses become less
useful.

Assume that due to growth of the child, changes in the child's
prescription (the prescription DOES change over time), and loss of
glasses (because kids lose glasses even faster than adults), that you'll
be getting new ones about once a year. It might wind up being more
frequent (or less) depending on your individual circumstances.

Be sure to get a CASE for the glasses. Most places throw one in for
free.

Consider getting 2 pair of glasses instead of just one. Our son has one
at home, one at school. This is very helpful when he mislays a pair ...

I hope these thoughts help,
--Beth Kevles
bethkevles@gmail.PUT-THE-COM-HERE
http://web.mit.edu/kevles/www/nomilk.html