Fashion and functionality: A teenage perspective

Eighteen-year-old Isabella recently developed eye strain and a bout of irritating eye twitches after a prolonged period of screen time. Her optometrist advised she start wearing glasses. “The lens I was prescribed was relatively mild, only 0.75,” she said. “Yet it was the aesthetic idea of having to wear glasses and feel confident in them that made me feel vulnerable. I felt incredibly insecure at the thought of having to wear glasses for the first time.”

Considering her age, Isabella also said she questioned why she needed glasses when her parents' eyesight is completely fine. Having grown up with good eye health, she felt disheartened by the sudden changes in her vision and worried about further deterioration.

Finding a frame to suit Isabella was a balancing act between fashion and fit, as well as taking into consideration her sensitivity to the idea of glasses in the beginning.

“With time, I started to put this new reality into perspective, and tried to shift my thoughts to something more positive. I tried to look at wearing glasses as an opportunity to purchase a new accessory and found a pair that fits my style,” said Isabella.

Teenage-hood is a time in an individual’s life where lots of different factors meet to make up a busy and bustling lifestyle – academic, social and sporting endeavours all compete with one another for centre stage.

At age eight, Chloe was prescribed her first pair of glasses due to short-sightedness. “At the time I loved wearing my glasses to school because not many kids wore them and everyone was really interested in them,” she said.

However, when Chloe entered her teen years, her attitude towards wearing her glasses in a class environment changed. “When I started high school, I felt a bit shy wearing my glasses because I never found a frame that I liked and that I thought suited my face.”

Chloe transitioned to contact lenses in year eight to better suit her active lifestyle. Playing netball, water polo, soccer, track and field and more recently AFL, contact lenses provided the perfect solution to Chloe’s sport-based needs, all the while improving her self-confidence.

“After a while, I started wearing contacts every day at school because it meant nobody could tell I had bad eyesight.”

Now in her later teenage years, Chloe says she’s come to enjoy wearing glasses just as much as contact lenses. Having found a frame that suits her face-shape, she feels more confident wearing glasses for day-to-day life activities, reserving contact lenses for sport.

When it comes to active teens, it’s important to remember that contact lenses might not work for everyone. There are other options available that provide the protection necessary for a range of physical needs. Whether this be impact-resistant glasses for sports where teens are at risk of eye injury, or accessories such as straps to ensure a secure fit to the face when doing activities like rock-climbing or sailing.

As well as taking into consideration fashion and functionality, it is imperative that the chosen vision-correction option fits well. There is no point having an aesthetic frame if they cause headaches or an impact-resistant lens if they slide down your face. If frames don’t sit where they should on your face for example, you won't be looking through the optical centre of the lens, which will cause poor vision.

It's crucial that frames fit the width of the face, sit well on the nose, stay in place and are comfortable to wear. In a classroom environment teens will frequently look up to the board, then back down to their book. If movement like this causes frames to slip and readjustment is constantly needed, then it might be enough to give up altogether.

If you're wondering about glasses, contact lenses or other eyewear accessories, the best idea is to make an appointment with your local optometrist for an eye examination to ensure you find the best option - and best fit - for you and your lifestyle.