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Children spend a lot of time outdoors, whether it’s playing in the yard, participating in sports, or enjoying recess on the playground. Recent studies have shown that natural light and more time outdoors play a role in a child’s eye development and may reduce the risk of nearsightedness in both children and adolescents. However, too much time spent outside without proper protection from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light can cause eye damage, just like it can cause skin damage.
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We all hear a lot about sunscreen and preventing sunburn, but we don’t hear quite so much about protecting children’s developing eyes. So for this Children’s Eye Health & Safety Awareness Month, we’re taking a look at how you can protect your child’s eyes from the sun.
Sunglasses for Children
UV Blocking
The best way to protect your child’s eyes from the sun is with sunglasses that block 100 percent (100%) of the sun’s harmful UV rays. Exposure to UV radiation can cause eye problems and has been linked to the development of eye problems such as cataracts.
The best way to protect your child’s eyes from the sun is with sunglasses that block 100 percent (100%) of the sun’s harmful UV rays. Exposure to UV radiation can cause eye problems and has been linked to the development of eye problems such as cataracts.
Blue Light Blocking
Protecting your child’s eyes from high-energy visible (HEV) or blue light is also important to his or her eye health, as blue light is thought to damage eyes and contribute to macular degeneration later in life. HEV / blue light comes from not only the sun, but also digital screens and electronic devices such as TVs, computers / laptops, smartphones, and tablets, as well as fluorescent and LED lighting. Certain sunglass lenses block blue light, but not all. It’s important to speak with your optician about which do and don’t.
Protecting your child’s eyes from high-energy visible (HEV) or blue light is also important to his or her eye health, as blue light is thought to damage eyes and contribute to macular degeneration later in life. HEV / blue light comes from not only the sun, but also digital screens and electronic devices such as TVs, computers / laptops, smartphones, and tablets, as well as fluorescent and LED lighting. Certain sunglass lenses block blue light, but not all. It’s important to speak with your optician about which do and don’t.
Choosing the Right Sunglasses for Your Child
Use the following as a guide to selecting the right sunglasses for your child:
- 100% UV Blocking Lenses: The first consideration in choosing the right sunglasses for your child is UV protection. You want to look for 100% UV blocking lenses, regardless of the lens color. However, you may want to consider that most lenses that also block HEV / blue light from the sun will be amber or copper in color. Your optician will be able to inform you about the characteristics of particular sunglass lenses. Just know that not all are created equal, so have an idea of what you want for your child so you can start the search there.
- Lens Material: The second consideration is the type of lens. Your child will likely be wearing his or her sunglasses for play and sports at times. Polycarbonate lenses are strong, durable, and impact-resistant (but not shatterproof). These types of lenses do tend to scratch easily, so consider a scratch-resistant coating. Glass and non-polycarbonate plastic lenses are more likely to shatter upon impact by a ball, rock, or body part. We’ll discuss protecting your child’s eyes from injury more in our next blog post, but for now, know that polycarbonate sunglass lenses will provide the most impact resistance for any activity.
- Usage & Frame Material / Design: The third consideration is the frame material. Think about how your child will use his or her sunglasses. Specialty sports eyewear - frame materials and designs – is made specifically for rough activities and sports such as basketball and lacrosse.
- Lens Coverage & Frame Shape / Fit: The fourth consideration is the amount of coverage a pair of sunglasses provides your child. You want to make sure that whichever sunglasses you and your child pick, the frame fits well and is comfortable to wear. The size of the lens and the amount of coverage will determine the amount of light that is able to get around the sunglasses and enter your child’s eye from the periphery (sides or top) of the sunglasses. Larger lenses and frames that fit closer to your child’s face will provide more protection from the sun than those that are smaller and allow gapping between the frame and face.
- Style: Finally, the last, but not least, consideration is style. You want your child to like his or her sunglasses to improve the likelihood that he or she will not only wear those sunglasses out the door, but also keep them on while outside and participating in outdoor activities.
Additional Tips for Children’s Sunglasses and Protecting Your Child’s Eyes from Sun and Blue Light
Here are some additional steps you can take to protect your child’s eyes from UV sunlight and HEV / blue light:
- Ensure your child wears a brimmed hat when outside. The brim will block sunlight from coming in the top, and possibly the sides, of the glasses. A hat will also provide protection to your child’s face and scalp from sunlight.
- Get cords (retainers) to hold your child’s sunglasses when taken or knocked off.
- Ask your optician to teach your child about proper sunglass care, maintenance, storage, and cleaning.
- Get a hard case for your child’s sunglasses to protect them when not in use or being carried in a backpack or sports bag.
- Teach your child the importance of protecting his or her eyes when the sun’s UV rays are at their most intense – mid-day, from 10 AM to 2 PM (when they are often outside for recess after lunch, involved in outdoor physical education activities, or at summer camp), particularly during the summer when UV levels are significantly higher.
- Be aware that reflective surfaces such as water and snow reflect UV light and increase the risk of damage from UV light.
- Minimize your child’s exposure to blue light by limiting time spent in front of or looking at digital screens and electronic devices.
- If your child needs corrective lenses for nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, ask the optician about special blue light blocking lenses that will minimize exposure to blue light from digital screens and electronic devices.
For More Information and Questions about Your Child’s Eye Health
For more information about children’s sunglasses, visit All About Vision’s ‘Sunglasses for Kids’ and watch the following short video:
To learn more about the benefits of spending time outdoors to children’s and adolescents’ vision, visit the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeSmart website.
Finally, if you have questions or concerns about your child’s eye health or vision, please call our office (508-746-8600) to schedule an appointment with one of our ophthalmologists or optometrists.
Join us for our final post for Children’s Eye Health & Safety Awareness Month. We’re talking about how to protect your child’s eyes from injury.
To learn more about the benefits of spending time outdoors to children’s and adolescents’ vision, visit the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeSmart website.
Finally, if you have questions or concerns about your child’s eye health or vision, please call our office (508-746-8600) to schedule an appointment with one of our ophthalmologists or optometrists.
Join us for our final post for Children’s Eye Health & Safety Awareness Month. We’re talking about how to protect your child’s eyes from injury.
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