Kids’ glasses have a hard life. They get sat on in the back seat, flung off on the trampoline and left lens-down on the sand at Northbridge Baths. A frame can look great on the display stand, but if it slides down a small nose by recess, it isn’t doing its job.
That’s why we stock two children’s ranges designed for growing faces: Tomato Glasses and Nano Vista (the brand writes it NanoVista). Here’s how they differ, how to choose, and how we fit them at our Northbridge Plaza practice.
The short version: Tomato Glasses are built to be tailored, with adjustable arms and a nose pad that moves to suit your child’s face. Nano Vista frames are built to take a beating: the material is very flexible, the arms swap for a band on many styles, and the frames come with a three-year warranty.
Why kids need frames made for kids
Younger children often have a low, flat nose bridge, so a standard nose pad sits in the wrong place and the frame slides. A child peering over the top of their glasses isn’t looking through their lenses. Then there’s growth: arms that fit in February can pinch by spring. A good kids’ frame handles all of that.
Tomato Glasses: fitted to your child, not the other way round
Tough enough for kids, cool enough for kids, and sensible enough for parents. Tomato Glasses are made for growing faces, busy lives and kids who definitely have an opinion about what they wear.
What sets them apart is how much of the frame adjusts:
- Arm length. The ear tips come off so the arms can be trimmed to length, and the tips can be pulled further back to add length as your child grows.
- Nose pad position. The pad fixes to one of three points on the frame (five on the baby frame), and pad sizes are interchangeable. For kids with a more defined bridge, it can come off altogether.
- Spares in the box. Tomato lists spare nose pads, spare ear tips and a headband with each frame, so a lost nose pad on a Sunday isn’t a crisis. The headband helps keep the glasses on during play.
Sizes run from a baby frame through to teenagers. Ask us which ranges are in store when you visit.
Tomato’s own fitting and care guides describe the frames as TR90, a lightweight, flexible material. One care note from Tomato: keep TR90 frames away from heat, and don’t clean them with alcohol or solvent-based wipes. In a Sydney summer, that rules out the car dashboard.
Nano Vista: made for kids who don’t sit still
Nano Vista frames are ultra-flexible, lightweight and very tough, designed to handle the bumps, bends and adventures kids throw at them.
The main range is made from Siliflex, which Nano Vista describes as its own patented, flexible and BPA-free material. In practice, that means plenty of give. (There’s more on frame materials in our lightweight eyewear guide.)
- Arms or a band. On many styles, the arms swap for a band or mini-band for active play.
- Nano Baby is designed for children up to four, with no metal parts, silicone-covered arms and an adjustable bridge.
- Custom Fit styles suit different nose bridge widths and depths, with longer elastic arms and bands.
- Sizes run up to 16 years, plus children’s sunglasses, including prescription styles (see our polarised lenses explainer).
Nano Vista frames also come with a three-year warranty, which gives parents extra peace of mind.
Clever design, serious durability and colours kids get excited about. What’s not to love?
Tomato or Nano Vista? A side-by-side
| Tomato Glasses | Nano Vista | |
|---|---|---|
| Built around | Fine-tuning the fit as your child grows | Flexibility and toughness |
| How it adjusts | Trim-to-length arms, a movable nose pad, swappable pad sizes | Arms that swap for a band, plus Custom Fit styles for different bridges |
| Ages | Baby frame from birth, through to teen and adult sizes | Nano Baby from birth, up to 16 years |
| Warranty | Ask us | Three years |
| Often a good match for | Babies and young kids with small or flat bridges, and kids between sizes | Active kids, and kids who are tough on their glasses |
There’s no wrong answer: the right frame depends on your child’s face, prescription and routine, and the fitting sorts that out. One caution for both brands: neither is protective sports eyewear, so tell us if your child plays a contact or ball sport.
What a kids’ frame fitting looks like with us
- An up-to-date eye test first. A frame is only as useful as the prescription in it. Our children’s eye testing suits kids of all ages, and a comprehensive eye examination is bulk billed for eligible Medicare card holders. Unsure? See the signs your child may need an eye check.
- The face before the frames. We check bridge shape, face width and where the arms need to sit before narrowing down the options.
- Your child chooses. Among the frames that fit, colour and style are their call. It’s their face, and they’ll have opinions.
- Adjusted on the day, and after. We fit them at collection, and you can bring them back whenever they slip.
The first thing we look at is where the frame sits on the bridge of the nose, because that is what stops it sliding down by recess. Everything else follows from getting that right.
We’re open Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sunday 10am to 3pm, so a fitting doesn’t have to cost a school day. Northbridge Plaza has two hours of free parking (car park entry from Eastern Valley Way or Harden Avenue), and we’re an easy trip from Willoughby, Castlecrag, Cammeray, Crows Nest, Naremburn, Artarmon, Chatswood, Mosman, Lane Cove and North Sydney. See all the areas we serve.
Small habits that make kids’ glasses last
- Keep a case in the school bag.
- Take them off with both hands. Pulling on one arm bends frames out of shape.
- Check the fit each school term, and pop in if the glasses sit crooked or leave marks.
Frequently asked questions
What age are Tomato Glasses for?
Tomato makes frames from birth upwards. The baby frame suits children up to about two, the Kids ranges cover roughly one to eight, and the Junior and Adolescent ranges run through to teenagers and adults.
What are Tomato Glasses made of?
Tomato’s own fitting and care guides describe the frames as TR90, a lightweight, flexible material. That’s why they need to be kept away from heat and alcohol-based cleaners.
Where can I buy Nano Vista glasses on Sydney’s North Shore?
At Northbridge Optical, Shop 21C, Northbridge Plaza, Sailors Bay Road, Northbridge. Nano Vista and Tomato Glasses both list us on their store finders. Call (02) 8350 2910 to check what’s in store.
Does Medicare cover children’s glasses?
Medicare covers eye tests by optometrists for eligible patients, but not glasses or contact lenses. Some private health extras policies contribute to frames and lenses, so check your cover.
Come in and try both
The easiest way to choose is to let your child try both. Book an eye test or call (02) 8350 2910, then try on Tomato and Nano Vista frames while you’re here, along with the rest of our brands.
To read more from the brands first, see Tomato’s fitting guide and the Nano Vista Indestructible range.
General information only, and not a substitute for an eye examination. If you’re concerned about your child’s vision, book in with one of our optometrists.
Dr Sophie Dao is the co-owner and principal optometrist at Northbridge Optical, bringing more than 15 years of experience in boutique private practice. A UNSW graduate with Honours and full therapeutic endorsement, she is passionate about providing personalised, high-quality eye care for patients of all ages.
With a special interest in myopia management, Sophie works with children and families on orthokeratology, atropine therapy and myopia-control lenses. As someone who is short-sighted herself and a parent of young children, she understands firsthand the importance of early intervention and long-term vision health.
Sophie believes in creating a welcoming, community-focused experience where every patient feels understood and cared for. When she’s not in the practice, she enjoys spending time with her family and keeping up with the latest research in clinical optometry.
