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3 Top Reasons Kids Need Sunglasses [Includes Infographics]

Do kids need sunglasses? Yes.

Wearing optical quality, UV-blocking sunglasses is important for all of us as a defense against harmful UV exposure – and a critical healthy habit to encourage children to master from an early age.

Still not convinced that your kids need sunglasses?

Here are three reasons provided by The Vision Council specific to children’s eyes and lifestyle that you may find helpful:

  1. Exposure adds up. By the time your child turns 18, he or she will already have acquired nearly 25 percent of their lifetime UV exposure. The earlier eye protection begins, the better! At Art and Science of Eyewear, we fit children of all ages (including toddlers) with sunglasses, both prescription and non-prescription.[Fact Graphic] Kids Need Sunglasses - Prolonged UV Exposure adds Up
  2. Children spend spend lots of time outside — that’s their job. Kids generally receive three times the annual sun exposure of adults.[Fact Graphic] Kids need Sunglasses - 3x Sun Exposure Compared to Adults
  3. A child’s ocular lens filtering capabilities are different from an adult’s ocular lens.  Explains The Vision Council: “Research has shown that young eyes are especially susceptible to UV rays. Unlike the mature lens of an adult eye, a child’s ocular lens cannot effectively filter out UV rays and so more radiation reaches the retina.”

[Face Graphic] Children Sunglasses - Kids Need Sunglasses - Kids Ocular Lenses Don't Filter UV Way as Effectively as Adults

 

[Infographic] Sunglasses for Kids - Real Sunglasses vs ToyTips for Buying Sunglasses for Children

The key to buying sunglasses for children is to make sure you are buying “real sunglasses” sized and designed for children that are FDA regulated and tested for UV-protection — and not one of the many novelty glasses designed to look like sunglasses but with no real UV-protection.

Click here to read more about how to tell the difference, including our detailed infographic, “Sunglasses for Children: Real UV Protection vs. Toys”.

One Last Tip: How Do You Get Your Child to Wear His/Her Sunglasses?

It helps if your child likes his or her sunglasses. Whether you are buying prescription or non-prescription sunglasses for your child, once you ensure that the sunglasses meet the UV-protection and other characteristics of real sunglasses, consider involving your child in making the final decision — based on style, fit and color.

Art and Science of Eyewear - Sampling of Sunglasses for Children, Sports Eyewear and Child-Sized Accessories - Lafayette CA

You may be surprised at the difference it makes!

Art and Science of Eyewear - Orange Glasses Icon