Hey, four eyes! You're totally cool, kid.

Remember that "Little House on the Prairie" when Mary Ingalls got her groovy granny glasses (If you don't, see this tightly edited YouTube version), and went through some perfunctory peer humiliation?

Apparently, times have changed for the better. Kids with glasses are respected by their peers, says Jeffrey Walline, an assistant professor of optometry at Ohio State University. Walline and colleagues surveyed 80 children between the ages of 6 and 10, regarding kid-opinions on lens-wearers.

Two-thirds of surveyed children said that kids sporting frames were "smarter," and almost two-thirds said glasses wearers were "more honest." But more importantly, the research says: "...children don't tend to judge the attractiveness of their peers who wear glasses when asked about their appearance, potential as a playmate or likely athletic abilities."

Perhaps it's the Harry Potter Effect?

And modern kids can pick up a pair at spec stores across the city. "Colaizzo and Market Optical were always great with helping us out and finding a cool pair," says Seattle mom Tanya Davis, when shopping for her son.

All stores carry a selection of frames, including both Harry-Potter-style wire rims and sophisticated styles in smaller sizes. Melinda Teeny says her daughter, then 7, selected "hip" glasses in the adult collection at First Hill Optical. Other stores mentioned -- Eyes on Fremont and the cost-conscious Costco.

So basically, eyeglasses are now a fashion accessory instead of a liability. If only Ron Weasley could go metal-mouthed for a flick or two...

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