How to choose sunglasses for kids

Sunglasses for kids

Kids can be pretty rough and careless when they’re at play. Sunglasses can get smashed, crushed, stepped on or cracked. Broken sunglasses have sharp edges that could potentially cause an eye or face injury. Finding sunglasses that offer 100 percent UV protection, while being a safe and smart choice for an active child, is important.

 Most parents don’t think twice about applying sunscreen to their children to protect them from the sun, but are they as careful about protecting their eyes?

During the summer months, children are often outside enjoying the warm weather and sunshine, whether it’s at the beach or in their backyard. It’s not enough to slip on a shirt, slap on a hat and slop on some sunscreen. UV rays can have the same harmful effects on a child’s eyes as on their skin. On average, a child’s exposure to sunlight is three times as much as that of an adult due to the amount of time they spend playing outdoors.

What should you look for when buying sunglasses for kids?

- Let them choose. You're not the one who has to wear the glasses or hear other kids' comments on them. Children are likelier to actually wear them if they select them themselves.
- Eyeball the glasses. Check to see that lenses are not scratched or warped and have no other flaws that distort vision.  Very young children may not know to complain if the glasses are flawed, so it's up to you to check before buying.
- Double Up. Sunglasses block only rays that come directly through the lenses. The skin around the eyes remains vulnerable to rays entering through the sides or from the top or reflected upwards off snow, sand, water, etc. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat is a good backup, blocking out many rays from above and even from the sides, while also shielding the face and neck. Seeking shade during the sun's most intense hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., provides another level of protection.
- Find glasses that block 99-100 percent of both UVA and UVB rays. Buy ones that indicate the percentage of UVR protection they provide.   The more skin covered, the better, so look for large, wraparound styles.
- Use playground-proof lenses. Kids run, trip, fall, and bounce off objects at an alarming speed. Their sunglasses should match this active lifestyle.  Find impact-resistant, scratch-proof lenses that don't pop out of the frames. Avoid glass lenses, unless recommended by a doctor; plastic is safer. Frames should be bendable but unbreakable. Make sure the glasses fit snugly, close to the face.

Check out the great range of kid's sunglasses at OptiLine.co.uk at affordable prices.