HANDS ON - Eye On Accessories
Kids Care Kit
by Amy Spiezio

It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes contributions from the entire eyecare community to maintain the youngest patients. For the school-age crowd, the daily demands on eyewear exceed those of grownups—when is the last time one of your adult patients went from the classroom to the playground, to the piano lesson, to the ball field, and then to the video game in the space of one day? To help kids hang onto their glasses, and to keep them whole and clean, accessories should be a daily part of their lives.

Providing protection, cases have advanced in technology and style, and kids now have plenty of choices in hard and soft cases. Cartoon characters, novelty shapes, and a colorful spectrum of hard cases can fit in a backpack or sports bag.

Retainers cover miles of style in youthful patterns and enduring designs. Sunclips provide sun protection and help streamline eyewear organization. They are often offered with specific frames, but are also available in custom sizes just for kids.

And don't forget the cleaning kits, with bright colors and prints in microfiber cleaning cloths, as well as efficient, small-sized containers of cleaner.

Clip style MG 5188 from Revolution Kids, www.revolution-eyewear.com, 800-986-0010	Kriss case from Sax North Atlantic Services, www.saxoptical.com, 800-223-5127	fun hard cases from Astucci, www.astucci.com, 888-ASTUCCI
Microclean cleaning set, OptiSource, www.1-800-optisource.com, 800-OPTISOURCE	Nickelodeon SpongeBob case from California Accessories, www.californiaoptical.com, 800-523-5567	Kiddie Cat eyewear retainer from EK Ekcessories, www.ekusa.com; 435-753-8448