Are you already dreaming about summer? A beach holiday? A dip in the pool? How exciting! But the arrival of sunny days also brings with it some questions. For example, do children need sunglasses ? If you have small children, you'd be wise to ask! We all know that using an effective sunscreen is never a problem, but how can you protect your little ones' eyes from UV rays? With a cap or hat? That's not enough! Exposure to ultraviolet rays has the same cumulative effect on the eyes as it does on the skin, and the medical community agrees: sunglasses for children are essential accessories, especially in the summer months. Read on to find out why!
WHY DO CHILDREN NEED SUNGLASSES?
To protect themselves from UV rays! Even more than adults, children suffer the harmful effects of UV rays (ultraviolet radiation) on the retina, since their eyes do not have the same ability to protect themselves from radiation. In addition, sunglasses reduce the amount of light that reaches the eyes, which provides greater comfort and vision with greater contrast on very bright days.
And do you know why children's retinas are exposed to more ultraviolet radiation than adults' retinas?
Because the front part of the eyeball, in particular the lens, is still very transparent, it lets through more light and radiation that reaches the retina. Therefore, children need sunglasses that protect 99 to 100% of UV rays .
Furthermore, children tend to spend more time outdoors than adults and more time “looking” at the sun, and of course they are not aware of the risks of sun exposure. For this reason, and because our eyes are 20 times more sensitive than our skin , your children, and all other children, should wear sunglasses to protect themselves against the harmful effects of sun exposure.
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF UV RAYS ON CHILDREN?
Continued and unprotected exposure of the eyes to UV rays can cause an acute eye condition, photokeratitis, which is a sunburn of the cornea, causing pain and a temporary decrease in vision. In the long term, continued sun exposure can cause other types of conditions , such as pterygium and cataracts.
DON'T CAPS AND HATS PROTECT CHILDREN'S EYES FROM UV RAYS?
No! Children need sunglasses because caps and hats only protect against UV rays that come from above. The sun's rays that come from below, namely those reflected by water, sand or flat surfaces, and which can also be harmful to the eyes, can only be filtered with sunglasses .
AT WHAT AGE CAN CHILDREN WEAR SUNGLASSES?
There is no minimum age. A child just a few months old, for example, can already wear sunglasses, as long as they are properly certified .
WHEN DO CHILDREN NEED SUNGLASSES?
The use of sunglasses should be a concern throughout the year , with special relevance for children, not only because all their tissues are more sensitive and therefore more susceptible to damage, but also because, normally, children do not take the initiative to wear sunglasses on their own.
It is very important to wear sunglasses when children are outdoors on days with high UV exposure . However, their use is not only recommended on the beach and on hot days, but also in snow or mountainous areas, which are at high altitudes and, consequently, have high UV radiation loads.
The use of sunglasses is even more recommended for children with eye pathologies , such as pigmentary retinopathy, albinism, aniridia, etc.
WHAT TO DO WHEN CHILDREN REJECT SUNGLASSES?
Some children find sunglasses funny, but others reject them. In these cases, the best thing parents and educators can do is set an example by putting on sunglasses themselves. If this doesn't work, it's a matter of gradually instilling this practice and investing in appropriately sized frames that adapt to the child's face and have elastic to help keep them in the correct position.
WHAT IF THE CHILD ALREADY WEARS PRESCRIPTION GLASSES?
Most materials used in prescription glasses lenses offer protection against UV rays. However, these lenses are colorless and do not reduce the light intensity or glare caused by the sun. For this reason, and for better protection and greater comfort, it is best to also opt for prescription sunglasses .
HOW TO CHOOSE SUNGLASSES FOR CHILDREN?
Modern designs, fun colored frames , good quality lenses for maximum UV protection… With so many models available, you might have a hard time choosing sunglasses for your kids. But it’s not complicated! Just follow these tips:
- Do a screening and choose only glasses that have a 99-100% UV protection certificate or that block UV radiation up to 400nm, regardless of the color of the lenses,
- Make sure the sunglasses fit your child's face properly and are the right size to protect their eyes;
- Choose sunglasses that reduce glare and reflections and do not distort colors;
- Ask your children if they like their sunglasses and feel comfortable wearing them to encourage them to wear them .
WHERE TO BUY SUNGLASSES FOR CHILDREN?
Right here at INDI!
Now that you know that children need sunglasses, be sure to check out our wide range of sunglasses for children with 99-100% UV protection: no glare, no reflections, no color distortion… but still very stylish!