I was born with Glaucoma and I've worn glasses since I was three years old. Getting glasses she likes is a good idea. Pointing out that they help her see and do things that she couldn't without the glasses in a subtle manner might help. If you wear glasses make sure you note that they help you. Have her look for the menu many people who wear glasses. If she is being picked on address that. Good luck.

The best thing I can think of is to make sure that she likes the glasses that she wears, and it sounds like you've got that pretty well covered. Maybe you can get her a couple of different colors/styles so she gets to pick whatever pair she wants to weat that day? Zenni is very affordable, and I am happy with the glasses that I got from them (they were only $24 dollars shipped!). I haven't looked at thier kid's line, as I don't have any children, and I just don't think I could pull off the look as a 6'1" 350lb guy.

Im deaf and blind so I wear hearing aids and a long cane user. I too was like her once. The way my mom approached it with me was she told me I was unique and had my own unique style. Blue hearing aids. Different color canes. This made other children my age envy me and did make me somewhat popular. I struggled however having more options gave me a greater boost. Giving her and telling her she's unique not different and telling her she gets extra attention and options that others don't get will help too.

I developed a cataract at 4. I have needed to wear glasses and contacts even after getting the cataract removed.

Give her some time. I went through periods across my life where I was angry and frustrated about my vision, even now as an adult. My parents were always very open about my vision issues, and eventually we would make jokes about it. Now I’m able to laugh about it and poke fun at myself. It sounds like you are doing everything right so far. She is at a rough age now anyway. If she is getting picked on because of it, maybe it’s time to switch to contacts. At least give her the option. I started wearing them at 7 as well for the some of the same reasons.

I remember feeling like this when I started school and realized that I was different. I wanted a quick fix, to look the same, to be normal. My parents just gave me some extra TLC and with time the phase passed. I love being who I am and I think my eye is beautiful. The fact that I wear glasses and contacts doesn’t even stand out any more.

Just give her some time. Comfort her. Acknowledge her differences while explaining everyone is different. This is part of what makes her unique and if everyone was the same life would be boring.

Make sure she likes her glasses- and help her realise that they help her see better.
Don’t stop her doing things- let her explore and learn her own limitations (might involve a scraped knee or two)

I was born with albinism and my parents never stopped me doing anything (even with my low vision) - I learned myself what I could and couldn’t do- and how important my glasses and binoculars were for school

Kids are inquisitive but they generally learn best from practical stuff

I had a really hard time accepting my vision (and honestly continue to sometimes as it can be a grieving process. Hopefully that makes sense?¿?). It took me years to not try to hide it or be self conscious. The 3 things that really helped me were:

Make sure she knows that although she may have vision issues, she can still do everything else anyone else can, but sometimes the route to get there may be a different way. My mom always used to tell me this and it helped me a lot. I have 2 fully sighted siblings and growing up I was treated just like them. There wasn’t any pitying or treating me differently because of my vision. In fact, growing up this way has truly made me believe that my vision doesn’t define me and that I offer a unique perspective on the world because of how I see.

Get in touch with your state’s servjces for the blind association. I’m from CT and ours is called Board of Education Services for the Blind (not sure if it’s called something different in other states). My parents found programs through them that had other kids with visual impairments. Things like summer camps (I did the Perkins theatre summer camp), outings, meet-ups etc. We often feel isolated and lonely becasue people just don’t know what it’s like to live how we live. Even with education it’s hard for others to understand, so having other kids my age helped me start the path towards acceptance. I saw that I wasn’t alone and that although I may feel or look different that doesn’t mean i’m not good enough or i’m not “normal”.

If she continues to struggle maybe look into bringing her to a therapist to help her work through it. Therapy has really helped me. At the end of the day getting to the point where she’s not self-conscious is going to be a long process, but it sounds like your a great parent, so she’s in good hands!

Also let her know just because she has this vision problem she can do just about anything in her life.

I’m a legally blind student pediatric psychologist, so I’ll take a stab at this. I’ve worn glasses since I was one, so I echo the need for her to be given freedom to choose her own glasses. Having multiple options is great if it’s within your budget; if not, that’s fine.

We think in what are called “frames.” What this basically means is that if we associate “x” with “y” and “z” enters that frame, even though “z” is unrelated, “z” will still hold the same association. In practical terms, if she feels “different” or “weird” about wearing glasses, that would carry over to school and she’d become miserable. The best way to combat this is to reinforce the idea that wearing glasses will help her see as well as anything positive she says about wearing glasses.

I currently have a patient about your daughter’s age that hates glasses so much that he flushed his down the toilet. One of the things I’m doing with him in session is coming up with a list of positive things about wearing glasses and being able to see (i.e. creating a positive relational frame for wearing glasses and seeing). I’d suggest that as a starting point; it should prompt a conversation between you two that you can guide from there.

Let me know if you have any questions.

I lost the lens in my only eye after radiation therapy caused a cataract. I've worn glasses my whole life. They definitely can be annoying at times, like when I want to read or watch tv laying down. But they just sort of become a part of you. You learn to blend them into your personal style. You can get away with wearing chunky bright frames in an office or school where everyone is dressed professionally or has to wear uniforms in boring colors. I'm very quiet and shy but I like to wear loud glasses so other people approach me to start a conversation. I'll never have a satisfying answer to why I was born with all of the issues I have. I can only try to make the best of it and remember to be kind to others who are a little different.