Tips To Choose The Right Sunglasses For Kids

Does your child really need sunglasses?

The answer is- Yes.

Long-time exposure to ultraviolet (UV) Radiation or blue light from sunlight increases the risk of age-related eye problems, like cataracts and macular degeneration. Since children spend most of their time playing outside, they are at high risk of such issues.

Moreover, their light-sensitive retina is more vulnerable to UV rays since the lens inside their eyes is not strong enough to block this harmful radiation.

Therefore, these factors make it essential to have kid sunglasses for your child to provide him with good vision throughout his lifetime.

This article lists the essential tips for selecting the appropriate sunglasses for your kids.

Relationship Between Children’s Sunglasses and UV Protection

UVA, low-energy ultraviolet radiation, can deeply penetrate both eyes and skin. It affects the eyes by implying the development of cataracts and macular degeneration. It tans the skin and causes wrinkles and other signs of ‘photo-aging.’

Moreover, UVB is considered high-energy ultraviolet radiation that can burn your skin. The cornea blocks most of these rays from entering the eyes. This way, it protects the internal eye tissues. When your child is exposed to these rays for a long time, it can severely damage their cornea, causing snow blindness or photokeratitis.

Therefore, it is essential to be aware of kids’ sunglasses with labels that say ‘blocks UV rays.’ Instead, look for the following features discussed in this article.

Features For Kids Sunglasses

Besides having lenses that virtually block the sun’s UVA and UVB, there are other features that you should take into consideration:

•   Impact-Resistant Lenses- The best sunglass for your child is the one with a polycarbonate lens. They are ten times more impact resistant than standard plastic lenses. It provides superior eye protection during outdoor activities. They are also lighter than glass or standard plastic lenses that deliver incredible comfort to your child’s eye.
•   Spring Hinges- Hinges that extend beyond 90 degrees and have a flexible nature decrease the snugness of the frame, which further prevents it from falling or getting damaged while playing.
•   Secure or Properly Fitted Frames- To protect your child’s eye from harmful ultraviolet rays and keep away dust and other debris, it is advisable to provide oversized yet close-fitting framed sunglasses.
•   An Elastic Band- An elastic band is attached at the end of each frame. It prevents the loss of damage to children’s sunglasses. Therefore, sunglasses with a closely fitted band is recommended. It keeps the frame snugly attached to the head during active sports. It allows your child to remove them and keep them hanging from the neck for easy on-and-off use.

Conclusion

There are several inexpensive sunglasses providing children excellent protection against UV rays. It is true, especially when the lenses they include are polycarbonate lenses. It is because it can block 100 percent UV rays without adding lens filters or coating.

However, some inexpensive sunglasses imposes certain risks. Therefore, before purchasing a sunglass for your tiny one, it is essential to ensure that you consider all those features mentioned earlier.