If there is one thing that is stressful to parents, it is maintaining the good health of their children. It’s impossible to not be worried about things that you may have no control over, and then must hand over to the experts.

This is why trusted opticians like International Optique are so important to have as part of children’s eyecare from early on. These professionals have invested forty years into making sure they know how to care for your and your children’s eyesight. Now, in the newly refurbished and relocated Kids’ Boutique on the first floor of Salmiya’s Central Plaza your children will be as comfortable and as well-looked after as they can be.

bazaar was impressed by the thoughtful and fashionable designs curated by the International Optique team as we explored the brightly colored and spacious new location with Head Optometrist April Habig, eldest daughter of founder Dr. Rolf Habig.

Discussing the difference that this new space has made to the International Optique experience April explains, “The kids seem to be happier and the parents are more relaxed too as there is so much more space and you can see the collections much more clearly.” With floor to ceiling windows, the area is bathed in daylight and is a cheery, uplifting place to spend time in.

As you approach the Kids’ section you are greeted with a compact play area with a low table and chairs perfect for your little ones to enjoy and be distracted by while you discuss with the optometrists exactly what is needed.

There is a huge range of frames on display, from specialty sports frames and swim goggles to ensure that children can resume their favorite activities freely, to super high-fashion mini-me options from Stella McCartney and Gucci, and instantly recognizable trusted eyewear brands like Ray Ban.

There are even ultra-lightweight rimless designs that don’t look like you’re wearing glasses at all, and wraparound sunglasses for extra protection! As some people also have smaller width frame requirements there are some sophisticated designs that will suit adult clients too, from high-end brands like German Mykita. And you don’t have to shop in the Kids’ section, the sales staff can bring the designs to you in the main store area if you prefer.

International Optique are cognizant that if children are diagnosed with eye problems at a younger age, even babies, this can mean a serious financial consideration for parents over the years. A provision has been made within the ranges of affordable options that look just as stylish as you would expect from these knowledgeable opticians.

“Price matters too, as children can break anything from any age. So [we offer] good quality products at affordable prices.” April explains.

But glasses can be a little annoying for children unused to having something sit on their face. What can be done to help children wear their necessary glasses? There are frames that you can tell have been specifically designed with young children in mind.

Made with hypoallergenic materials, lightweight, rubberized, silicone tips, bendable, and fully wraparound so they don’t fly off with a shake of head in full tantrum. There are even frame legs (known as temples) which are designed to be cut to size, so they can be fitted perfectly to match the length of your child’s head.

Even more accurate are the frames with adjustable pieces that run the length of the temples, snugly fitting at the back of the ear. An example of this can be found in the brand Centrostyle, a research and development focused eyewear business designed in Italy and manufactured in the Far East, passing on the savings to the customers but delivering on innovation.

International Optique with their years of dealing with children’s needs have even designed and made their own frames for babies and toddlers. It is very impressive.

You can tell that this is a family business with decades of experience behind them. The third generation of the Habig family may only be a year old but already she is in the store, playing with the stuffed lions and toys that are strategically placed to distract children while they get fitted for their eyewear needs.

Huge puppets can be used to show the children how easy it is to wear glasses, by the puppets looking like they are putting on the glasses themselves. It must be fascinating to watch as a young kid, seeing these child-sized puppets leading by example showing how happy they are to be in the store trying on different kinds of glasses.

Children are drawn to characters on branded products they know such as Hello Kitty, but after initially seeing these identifiable characters, because the ranges and the brands are so broad they then have the option, gradually being guided through the entire process, to try on others.

They may prefer unique design elements like those seen on Vinyl Factory frames with its iconic guitarhead shaped temple tips. Or they may like the comfort of silicone nose pads, fixed or hinged.

Having such a comprehensive display on the walls and with the staff being super knowledgeable about the stock that’s not on display, International Optique gives parents myriad options as well as the tools to customize their child’s look. If they want a certain color frame but with another finish, for example, the opticians will provide these solutions where they can.

It takes approximately two to three weeks to get exactly what you have ordered.

Colorful frames that your child has chosen for themselves can also make glasses a fun confidence boosting feature accessory for children but if parents prefer to have rimless glasses that are almost invisible to the eye, these are available too from brands such as the Danish eyewear specialist Lindberg.

Even rimless styles require temples, however, and the thinnest of these are beautifully sculpted with one frames’ example featuring metallic jewel colors of emerald green and imperial purple that runs along them like an iridescence seen in a spill of petrol on water.

The new Kids’ boutique will soon feature a reading corner as well, so your little bookworms can spend even more time happily whiling away the time it takes for the highly trained staff at International Optique to consistently deliver high end service with stylish products at affordable prices.

The new corner location is ideal for these young customers, roomy, bright, colorful, and there are several distractions to keep them happy making parents’ visits to the opticians with their beloved little ones a pleasure.

International Optique newly refurbished Kids Boutique is found on the right-side corner of the first floor of Central Plaza, Salmiya on to Salem Al Mubarak. Visit the website www.intoptic.com to see all the locations in Kuwait and follow them on Instagram @intoptique for their latest news. Photography by Yousef Al Nasser, @yousefcam on Instagram for bazaar Studios.