Bridle Trails’ resident, Hayley Martin’s passion for raising awareness about children’s vision care is inspired by her daughter Evelyn’s vision journey. As a toddler, Evelyn always seemed cautious, but Hayley was not concerned until the family went on vacation. “We live in a home without stairs, but when we rented a home that was two stories, I noticed her falling up and down the stairs,” shares Hayley. “It made me stop in my tracks and I realized pretty quickly that something was up, and we needed to see an optometrist.”
After some testing, four-year-old Evelyn was diagnosed with amblyopia, a condition where one eye is significantly stronger than the other. Amblyopia impacts depth perception, which contributed to Evelyn’s difficulty navigating stairs. “We were very fortunate that she was diagnosed early,” says Hayley. “She went through a year of vision therapy which taught her eyes and brain to work together more effectively. Today, because of that therapy, Evelyn has the visual processing skills that are consistent with children her age.”
Evelyn’s situation made Hayley realize that all parents need to be encouraged to have vision evaluations done for their children at a young age and by a pediatric or developmental optometrist. “One in four children in the U.S. has a vision condition that is highly treatable, but it has not yet been diagnosed,” explains Hayley. “Even if a child isn’t exhibiting traditional signs like squinting or putting their book close to their face, there could be other issues such as tracking, focusing, or eye teaming. If a child is experiencing issues in school or having problems learning to read, it may not be a behavioral or focusing issue, it might be something as simple as a visual processing issue.”
One of the tools used to correct Evelyn’s vision were eyeglasses. As they shopped for glasses, Hayley found it difficult to find a pair that not only fit Evelyn correctly and comfortably but were also something a little girl would be excited to wear. “Most of the glasses were just so big and they overwhelmed her face. They were also very bold in colors and shapes - none that actually felt like her,” explains Hayley. “After some time, we did find a pair and although she did wear them, she didn’t love them.”
The experience made Hayley wonder what she could do to get children, especially little girls, excited to wear glasses. “It's so hard to find glasses that make girls feel good in them and then they get to school and are teased by other kids,” shares Hayley. “It made me reimagine how we think about glasses and encouraged me think about what I could do to make glasses that are so beautiful and appealing that even children who don't have to wear glasses will wish that they did.”
During that time, Hayley recalls searching through her purse for something and finding all the pebbles, rocks, and shells that Evelyn had collected and deposited in her purse. “I remember thinking that little girls love to collect little things; they see treasures where we might see junk,” she says. “I started thinking about how to integrate that concept into eyewear and the idea of interchangeable charms came to me. They sit flush on the temple and are beautiful, jewelry-level quality. I knew girls would love to collect, show off, and mix and match the charms.”
In a fun mother-daughter collaboration, Hayley and Evelyn brought the concept of flattering, fun, and functional eyewear to life when they founded Once Upon A Charm Eyewear. “We’ve created really beautiful eyewear that girls want to wear, are proud to wear, and get excited about wearing,” says Hayley. “But it's also eyewear with an anatomically informed fit, designed specifically for children rather than scaled-down adult frames. All our frames are engineered for children’s naturally underdeveloped nasal bridges and smaller facial proportions. The frames stay comfortably in place without slipping down the nose, pinching behind the ears, or creating pressure points that can lead to discomfort.”
The frames come in three sizes, three models (Fairy Whispers, Mermaid Wishes, and Whimsical Wonders), and in either translucent pink or purple. Each pair can be accessorized with beautiful hand-painted charms. “The charms are about more than being able to mix and match with your favorite outfit. They bring to life the imagery that little girls think about in the quiet of their day - the things they like to doodle and imagine,” shares Hayley. “They feature things like fairies, mermaids, unicorns, flowers, and ballerinas - imagery that girls feel naturally drawn to and excited about wearing.”
From conception to the company name to ideas for charms, Evelyn and Hayley have worked together to create something they love. “This whole process has been a wonderful mother-daughter collaboration,” says Hayley. “Although I've done the design work, it's truly an eyewear line designed in tandem with a child for children. I think that's what really sets it apart.”
“One in four children in the U.S. has a vision condition that is highly treatable, but it has not yet been diagnosed.”
“Most of the glasses were just so big and they overwhelmed her face. They were also very bold in colors and shapes - none that actually felt like her,”
Once Upon A Charm Eyewear is sold online and in select doctor’s offices. For more information on products and helpful articles on children’s vision challenges, visit onceuponacharmeyewear.com and follow @onceuponacharm_eyewear on Instagram.