Important factors to consider when purchasing prescription goggles for your child
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Like peanut butter and jam, kids and play are inseparable. As a result, caring parents know that letting their children swim in pools is one way of spicing up their lives. Aside from kids who consider swimming their hobby, others are already working hard to beat Mikayla Tan’s records.
Put simply, they dream of becoming professional swimmers in the future. Whichever is the case, they all need goggles for children. But then, if your child wears corrective glasses, they just don’t need any pair of goggles but a pair of corrective or junior prescription goggles for kids.
Sure, they help protect their eyes from irritants (like chlorine and ultraviolet radiation) and ensure children can see underwater. This way, they can stay safe and get the most out of swimming. Sadly, you probably have no idea what to look out for in such goggles.
Well, if you find yourself in that situation, you have absolutely nothing to worry about because we have done all the legwork for you, keep reading to learn more about junior prescription goggles for your child including important factors to consider before purchasing.
Junior Prescription Goggles Overview
If your child wears prescription glasses or contact lenses, it will interest you to know that 75% of adults and over 20% of young people wear corrective lenses for improved vision. Therefore, your baby has no reason to be ashamed to wear them. If that’s the case, you don’t have to gift them just any pair of goggles – it has to be a pair of corrective lens goggles.
More importantly, opticians strongly kick against using contact lenses for swimming. The reason is that the bacteria in water could cause an infection if they get under the lens. Yes, this is where the corrective lens type comes in. Those prescription goggles provide optimal underwater vision for children. In fact, it doesn’t matter the kind of water (sea, pool or shower) – because they work well for all waterbodies.
When your little one wears corrective lens goggles, it becomes pretty easy for him to judge pool walls and avoid other pool users. Because pools are often treated with chemicals like chlorine and chloramines, the wearables will also ensure your child’s eyes don’t make contact with them.
Once they have put on the goggles, they don’t have to worry about reading the wrong time on the pool clock. Apart from kids, youth can also use them to swim in shallow parts of lakes and rivers to appreciate the details of the stunning underwater world. No doubt, this explains why everyone needs to have them.
Back to children’s corrective lens goggles, they support both short-sighted and long-sighted kids. If your child falls into that group, you will realize that the swimming goggles motivate them whenever they wear those underwater vision enablers.
Types of Junior Prescription Swimming Goggles
The two major types of corrective lens goggles are explained below:
Customizable goggles
These are often off-the-shelf custom-made goggles that bring out the best in their users. The lens has a definite strength to ensure that the wearer has a clear underwater vision. They also have different power in each eye, come in parts, and have different nose bridge options.
Because the features are perfectly assembled to suit the user, this type is pretty pricey. This is worth it because regardless of your eye condition (long-sighted, short-sighted, or astigmatism), the custom-fitted option serves perfectly. Because everyone’s descriptions vary, so is the price. They also come in different arrays of colors, including pink, blue, black, grey, green, and orange. You can easily place an order for it, depending on your corrective glasses’ strength.
Pre-set Goggles
If you don’t want to go for the customizable type, then there is a pre-set (premade) alternative for you. The good thing is that it works for both long-sighted and short-sighted users too. Preassembled to have the same power in each eye, premade lens goggles have both fixed nose bridges. This type also has an anti-fog feature, an ultraviolet ray protection mechanism, and is made for both males and females.
6 Major Factors to Consider Before Buying Prescription Goggles for Kids
Let’s quickly run through the factors:
Lens
Given the nature of your child’s eyes, the lens is a critical factor to consider here. Lens depends on the brand, the kind of swimming, and the user requirements. If your kid needs it for competition (such as open-air triathlons and neighbourhood lap pools), you have to go for lenses that offer protection from ultraviolet radiation.
The reason is that your little man will always meet the sunlight between strokes, especially when he swims in the afternoons and evenings. Also, go for tight, low-profile lenses if it is for swimming competitions.
Seal
Another factor to look out for is the seal. The reason is that good ones don’t let water in. In addition to not letting water in, it shouldn’t discomfort you when you put it on either. If the eye wearables leave imprints on your kid’s face after use, it is a red flag because good ones shouldn’t. If you want to buy the premade type, remember that everyone has different face shapes.
Hence, you will spend time looking for those that perfectly fit your child. As regards the material, go for the seal made of rubber or silicone gasket around the eyes instead of the plastic or foam. It is because such materials allow you to create suction in your eyes and ensure that water doesn’t get in. If your child intends to use this pair of goggles for competition – like racing in the morning lap – you should opt for the type that has a tighter gasket.
On the other hand, if your little man intends to use it for casual swimming, go for the type whose gasket sits further away from his eyes.
Nose Bridge
Out there, goggles for casual, beginner, intermediate, and advanced users allow them to adjust their nose bridges. However, getting these kinds for kids may be uneasy as they are primarily designed for experts. In other words, you should consider going for the custom-fitted goggles for your child to get all the cool features you need in one wearable.
Additionally, ensure the nose bridge fits well so it doesn’t hurt them. Nose bridges are adjustable and have different styles. Generally, it should sit comfortably on your child’s nose and create a seal all around their eyes without gaps.
Size of gasket
Well, you also have to consider the gasket size. When it comes to the size of the gasket, the smaller, the better because that gives you less resistance in water. If small goggles scare your little man or he wants a larger-than-normal angle of visibility, you should consider getting the ones that look like they are meant for scuba diving.
On the flip side, don’t settle for this if you intend to use it for competition. Lastly, ensure they are comfortable to use.
Type of Protection
One of the reasons you are getting your baby girl this pair of corrective goggles in the first place is to protect her eyes, right? Great! If you are going for the pre-set type, go through the descriptions to find out the type of protection it offers.
Some goggles are specifically designed with a water layout that protects the users against fog. The manufacturer injects anti-fog coating into the lens. In a similar vein, some offer superior protection from harmful ultraviolet radiation.
If you can get pre-set corrective goggles that protect your child from fog and ultraviolet rays, that’s perfect! For example the Junior goggles from speedo:, Speedo Vanquisher Prescription Goggles have anti-fog and ray protection.
Strap
First, be sure the swimming wearable has an adjustable strap. Also, the kind of strap matters! The appropriate strap for your kid should be big enough so you can easily untangle it from their hair.
Plus, you have to consider the quality of the material used to make the strap. To ensure you have the right quality, stretch the strap very tight and check if its color changes to white. If it does, then it is made of poor-quality material.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are other things to keep in mind. For instance, ensure your kid tries a pair of corrective swimming wearable you intend to buy for them and that it fits perfectly before paying for it.
Moreover, if the manufacturer seals them in a way that you have to destroy the case first to try them, they are probably poor-quality goggles. Run!!! Away from that, note that their prices vary, depending on the quality and brand. Let’s be clear, you can be the best mom or dad in the world if you gift your little man or baby girl well-fitted swimming goggles. Without mincing words, this guide has given you what you need to make it happen!
At this juncture, it is safe to say that you have all it takes you give your kid a safe, fun-filled swimming experience. So, gift them corrective lens goggles today!