13 reasons why children should wear sunglasses
While 73% of adults wear sunglasses, only 30% of kids wear sunglasses. Here’s 13 good reasons of why kids should wear sunglasses, especially with the lifestyle we lead on the Northern Beaches!
- The lens of the child’s eye transmits about 70 percent more UV than the adult eye.
- The cells of the lens of the eye are never replaced; the proteins of the lens are never replenished. The lens cannot repair itself; damage accumulates over a lifetime.
- Kids under 10 are at a higher risk for both skin and eye damage, as their skin and eyes are more fragile.
- Children are outdoors much more than adults, so it is likely that over 1/2 of their life exposure to the sun will occur within the first 20 years of their life.
- Very bright sunlight – reflected off sand, snow, water or the pavement, can cause immediate damage to the cornea.
- Kids look up more, which means they are often looking into the sun.
- It is up to adults to train their kids on the damages sun can do. Like wearing seatbelts, not touching hot stoves… Children can be taught about sunglasses, but only if they have sunglasses.
- When children’s eyes get sunburned, unless it is severe, they will not feel the pain as they do with the skin. The warning signs are not so obvious.
- The long-term effects of sunburned eyes are cumulative and not reversible. Research shows cataract, pterygiums, macular degeneration and melanomas of older age begin with childhood UV and blue light exposure.
- Hats only protect from above, not below, where reflected UV from water, sand or concrete can do a lot of damage.
- With ozone depletion occurring as much as 12 percent per year in certain parts of the world, our children are at greater risk of UV than we were growing up.
- The variety of sunglasses for kids makes them easy and comfortable to wear. Quality sunglasses offer 100 percent UV and blue light protection,
- Sunglasses are cool … and fun!
