Children & Sunglasses
Children's eyes are delicate, their sight is still developing and so need greater care and protection from UV light than adults. Sadly, this message is not well known and so children are still walking around with inadequate eye protection even though their parents are fully covered up. Your children only have one pair of eyes, so it is important to protect them from the earliest point possible with regular eye tests and correct eye wear. Everyone's eyes are at risk from the sun, especially children's, as before a child turns 18 they'll have absorbed half of the UV rays that they'll absorb in their lifetime. As standard, our range of kid's sunglasses block 100% of both UVA and UVB rays. We also have a large range of polarised sunglasses so that a child is able to get all the benefits an adult would get.
At Stephen H Davis Optometrists, we have an extensive range of kid's sunglasses that have been specifically designed for a child's smaller head and facial features. Our friendly dispensing opticians make special effort to ensure the fit and design of your children's sunglasses is perfect for their requirements and offers them 100% protection against harmful UV rays.
Protecting young skin from the sun has become second nature for most parents, but not so when it comes to eyes. The message is not getting out there but eyes too can get sunburnt, a condition known as photokeratitis. Over-exposure to ultraviolet light, such as a day at the beach or on the ski slopes without proper eye protection, can cause a painful burn to the surface of the eye (cornea) - similar to sunburn on the skin. Although the condition is temporary, it can lead to blurring of vision and much distress to young children and requires urgent medical attention.
The damage can also affect the eyes long term. It starts early and is cumulative. It is therefore vital that children adopt good UV habits early on in life - avoid the midday sun, cover up with factor 50 suncream and UV protective sunwear, put on a 3-inch wide brim cap and of course a pair of 100% UV protective sunglasses which complies to recognised standards.
Australia has always led the way in understanding the importance of protecting young eyes. Their evidence based research has linked UV light with serious sight threatening conditions like cataract and macular degeneration. The evidence is so compelling that sunglasses are being made a compulsory part of every child's school uniform and incorporated into the Slip-Slap-Slop campaign.
Remember, that all children's eye tests are paid for by the NHS. Why not bring your children into Stephen H Davis Optometrists and our staff will be more than happy to help go through our kid's sunglasses with you.
