Children quickly learn to associate fear and pain with the word doctor even though; the word eye in this case, precedes the word. Talking to a three-year-old child about the child’s first visit to the eye doctor is not an easy task. Going through the process of the comprehensive eye exam and receiving glasses sounds scary to a young child. How can you help your child through the procedure and make getting glasses a positive experience, not scary maybe even fun?


I investigated two products that can offer helpful information to parents with young children facing an eye exam. The first item is a children’s book called, “Magenta gets glasses” by Deborah Reber, illustrated by Troy Dugas. Second, a well-scripted video presented by Eye Med Vision Care posted on the YouTube Channel.


Magenta, a magenta colored dog one of the characters in the children’s series called Blue’s Clues from the Nickelodeon channel finds out she needs and eye exam and possibly glasses. The book details Magenta’s visit to the eye doctor. Two of Magenta’s friends (Blue and Steve) go with her to the doctor’s office. The book does a great job of discussing the issues children face when dealing with an eye exam and getting glasses. The story line helps a young child understand why he/she must get glasses. The book ending provides an excellent discussion of why it is important for a child who needs glasses to wear the glasses. In the end, Magenta finds a purple pair of glasses she likes and talks about how much better she can see with her glasses. The book is an excellent read for children ages two to four.


My trip to the eye doctor:

A young boy named Austin tells his story of going to the eye doctor and getting glasses. The video is well designed and presented in an appropriate manner and language for children. Austin tells his story in a very entertaining format. Austin goes through each part of an eye exam and choosing his glasses. The clip is four minutes in length. During Austin’s presentation, calming pleasant music plays in the background. Find the video by entering the phrase; “My Trip to the Eye Doctor” into the YouTube search edit box, press enter then click on the title from the search results.


Conclusion:

The book in combination with the YouTube clip provides information that will help young children overcome the fear of an eye exam and wearing glasses. I recommend both of the products. The paperback form of the book is around five dollars.


Editor’s note:

I purchased the book as a gift for my friend’s two-year-old daughter. Because I am legally, blind and do not read printed material my friend read and described the book. I was present when my friend’s daughter received the book. I listened as my friend and his daughter read the book. She loved the book and seemed more excited than afraid about going to the eye doctor. I came across the YouTube video while doing research for this article. I believe the video clip is helpful and easy for a young child to understand.

I have not received any form of compensation for writing this review article.