Protecting your child’s eyes from the sun.
There is ample evidence that excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays can lead to cataracts and macular degeneration.
Children’s eyes are even more exposed to the sun as they have larger pupils and clearer lenses In practice, 70% more harmful ultraviolet radiation reaches a child’s retina than the eyes of an average adult. If we take into account that 80% of our total exposure to the sun occurs during childhood and adolescence, we understand that the use of sunglasses and hats by children protects them from eye diseases that develop in adulthood and for which the sun is responsible.
Apart from protection from UV radiation, with sunglasses children are less bothered by the intense brightness of the sun, but also by the wind and sand!
Make sure that your child’s sunglasses are 100% absorbent to UV rays and that they are certified as medical devices by the European Union. To be sure, buy sunglasses only from optical stores.
But the sun is also our friend. Scientific studies have shown that children who spend more time outside are less likely to develop myopia. So, do not remove children from the sun but make sure they are properly protected.