Sun protection is extremely important for your child's eyes. Excess exposure to UV rays can cause your child to develop cataracts and macular degeneration later in life. In order to prevent this from happening, you should let your child wear sunglasses from as early as three years old whenever they will be out in the sun for an extended period of time. Your child's eyes are still developing and the lens in their eyes are thinner than those of adults. This is why protecting their delicate vision from harsh UV rays should be a top priority.
Here are some tips to consider as you choose sunglasses for your child:
Make A Fashion Statement
Children can be extremely self-conscious, so it is essential that you get them a pair of sunglasses that they are comfortable wearing and not one that they you choose on your own. Get your child involved in the process of choosing their sunglasses so that they can make a personal fashion statement and be more likely to keep them on.
Choose Strong UV Protection
While wearing fashionable sunglasses will make your child more comfortable wearing their sunglasses, this does not mean that you should skimp on quality. Any sunglasses that you buy should have 100 percent UV protection. When choosing a pair of sunglasses with your child always check the labeling to find out the percentage of UV protection that it provides. Always bear in mind that the darkness of the lens does not determine the amount of protection the sunglasses give from UV light.
Choose A Wrap Around Style
Help your child to choose sunglasses that have wraparound styling, so that UV light can be blocked from the corners of their eye.
Choose Polycarbonate Lens
Lens that are made out of polycarbonate can withstand strong impact without breaking. This is an important feature since your child may have an accident that involves eye contact, during sports or other forms of play.
Get Straps
Children tend to be very active, especially when they are outside in the sun. Getting a loose fitting strap that is attached to the end of the sunglasses' earpieces will cause the glasses to hang from the child's neck when the child removes the sunglasses from their face or if it gets knocked off during play. This prevents the sunglasses from getting damaged from a fall. Let your child choose the color of the strap for their sunglasses, since this ensures that the color of the strap is within your child's taste.
Protecting your child's delicate vision means helping them to choose the best sunglasses for their needs without sacrificing their personal sense of style. To get started choosing sunglasses rely on the team at Webster Eye Care Associates to help you throughout the process.
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