Children’s Eyes are More Vulnerable than an Adult’s
One of the most frequent questions we field at our Dallas eye clinic is, “do children really need sunglasses?” Yes! They most definitely do. Whether you are young or old, too much exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays can be extremely harmful. This is especially the case for youngsters, as their eyes are developing and need to be properly cared for.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation and blue light from tablets, phones, and other gadgets can be detrimental to your child’s eye health, which is why protection is key. Even though this is the case, you are much less likely to see children sporting a pair of shades on a bright, sunny day. Given the fact adults are extremely reliant on their sunglasses, why is it that we leave our children’s eyes exposed to harmful rays?
Today, we are going to take a closer look at why children need sunglasses and how their eyesight can become damaged, should they go without them on too many occasions. If you need to schedule an eye exam for your child or if you have additional questions that were not answered, please give First Eye Care DFW a call today.
Top Reasons Children Need Sunglasses
An estimated 73 percent of adults wear sunglasses, but only 58 percent of them encourage their children to do the same. While we understand it may be difficult to get your kiddo to keep his or her sunglasses on, it’s important to try. If your child has blue eyes, this is especially important because blue-eyed people are at a greater risk for UV damage than others.
Let’s now look at some of the other reasons why children need to wear sunglasses:
- They have sensitive eye structures – As mentioned earlier, one of the main reasons why children should protect their eyes is because of how vulnerable they are to damage as they develop. A child’s lens remains clear until they are 10, which means their eyes cannot filter UV rays like an adult’s opaque lens can.
- They spend more time in the sun – Here in Texas, children spend countless hours outside, especially in the summertime. Because of this, they are exposed to the harmful rays of the sun and should be protected.
How Can the Sun Damage My Child’s Eyes?
Some of the ways UV rays can damage the eyes over time include:
- Photokeratitis
- Cataracts
- Pterygium
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Cancer
While the majority of these conditions develop later in life, early exposure to harmful UV rays and blue light may make your child more at risk. We recommend trying to get your child to wear sunglasses as soon as possible. By modeling good sunglass-wearing habits, including your child in the sunglass-picking process, and making sure the ones you choose block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays, you will be promoting the health of your child’s eyes. To learn more, please contact FEC DFW today.