Our eyes are so important. So very important and I don’t think any of us ever really stop and think about that. Maybe if we did we would take better care of our eyes. Sure I get my regularly annual eye exams. I actually just had mine last week but I know I hardly ever wear my sunglasses and UV rays can be very damaging. More so then you think. The funny thing is that we start our children right from the start and we protect them in every way possible. Even at only three months I had Sawyer in his own set of sun glasses because I knew his little eyes needed protection.
Did you know that 72% of U.S. adults report that they wear sunglasses to protect their eyes from the sun but that a study by The Vision Council revealed that only 60% actually wear sunglasses outside? I actually thought it would be less then that. I’m horrible at remembering to put my own sunglasses on. What saddened me though was that only 48% of U.S. adults report that they make their children wear sunglasses to protect eyes from UV damage! Those little eyes need protection! Did you know that UV damage is cumulative? This means that the older someone is and the more exposure they’ve had to the sun will result in being more at risk for serious and debilitating vision problems.
Researchers actually believe that lighter eyes experience more UV damage and that’s likely due to the fact that they have a lower incidence of melanin – which is a protective pigment. So, if you have blue eyes like my Gavin does then they definitely should be wearing sunglasses! Children receive three times the annual sun exposure of adult and by the time they turns 18, he or she will have acquired nearly 80% of lifetime exposure to UV. Isn’t that crazy?
See how we seem to know we need to protect our kids eyes yet we fail to protect our own? It’s definitely something I am going to work on fixing.
To know if your sunglasses filter out UVA and UVB, first look for a sticker or label on the lens or frame that indicates protection. If you don’t see a sticker or have an older pair of sunglasses, you can bring them to an eye care professional who can test them using a UV meter.
Getting Sunglasses That Fit Your Lifestyle:
- Darker lenses don’t necessarily mean better protection
- Brown, amber and copper lenses work to reduce glare and improve contrast for activities like driving, golfing, water sports and snow sports
- Grey tint is popular because it distorts color the least
- Yellow and rose tinted lenses enhance definition which can be helpful if your driving in fog or haze
- Gradient tints, which have a gradual change in color from the top down, cut overhead glare and provide clearer vision when looking down or straight ahead
- Polarized lenses absorb light from horizontal surfaces which can be particularly helpful when driving
- Anti-reflective lenses work extremely well at blocking reflected light from water, snow, concrete and even grass
Sunglasses For Children
- Make sure the sunglasses fit your children comfortably. Sunglasses that pinch or are scratched are less likely to be worn
- Set a prime example by always wearing your own shades
- Style might play a role; have them pick out a pair they like and they may be more prone to wear them
- Quality doesn’t necessarily translate to high cost
- If your children are particularly prone to losing items, consider buying shades with a plastic frame, which can be less expensive than metal frames
Click picture to view full size. (then click photo again)
For more resources and fun activities: www.thevisioncouncil.org
Definitely get kids wearing sunglasses! I never wore them as a child and now I have a benign growth of tissue called pterygia in both of my eyes which will eventually require surgery to correct so that they don’t affect my vision. I rarely wore sunglasses playing outside, and my eye doctor said that was enough to cause them. We can never take too-good care of our eyes!!
never go out without sunglasses/My eyes are sensitive to begin with and it should be a priority to take care of your eye sight!
All 3 of my kids always wear sunglasses when they go outside.
thank you ,some really good points an information
We try to always put sunglasses on the kids when we go out. My daughter loves them she has about 6 pairs. We always put them on the baby because he dont like the sun 🙁
We have prescription sunglasses for my grandson so his eyes can stay protected. Very important
My little ones will never keep sunglasses on – no matter how cute they are 🙂
My boys love wearing their sunglasses. I didn’t realize how important it was that they wear them when outdoors always!
My daughter is 18 mos and it is nearly impossible to get her to keep her sunglasses on… she just rips them right off her head, even the one’s that are secured with a band! Little stinker!
I always make sure my little ones eyes and skin are protected.
that first pic is adorable! 🙂 love the little glasses!
My grandson refuses to put sunglasses on and keep them on! I really wish he got used to the feeling. At least he will wear a hat when outdoors. I think once he gets a little older he will realize that wearing sunglasses is so much better!
The amount of UV exposure we acquire accidentally is remarkable. I never leave the house without sunglasses, kids should be encouraged, too.
we stock up on the plastic ones every summer, because we always end up losing a couple
We need to get some sunglasses for our 6 month old daughter. We haven’t found a pair that fits her yet, but we have several sunhats for her that shade her eyes and face.
I have had the worst luck getting my youngest to keep sunglasses on. I’ll have to try your tricks and tips. My oldest, though, she would wear hers everywhere.
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Both my boys wear sunglasses. The baby tries to pull them off often, but I just keep replacing them. My 5 year old is very sensitive to the sun light and his eyes water the moment he walks outside.
my kids actually love sunglasses. these look like really nice ones!