Living a tropical country like Malaysia means that we got to see the sun shining all year round. It’s blessing because I don’t really like cold and icy weather.
But having sunshine all year round also means we are exposed to the sun’s powerful ultraviolet rays (UVR) every day!!
Children under age 10 are at a high risk for eye damage from UVR. The skin on their eyelids and around their eyes is more delicate and vulnerable than adult skin.
So, it is VERY important to protect our eyes from the sun ultra violet ray especially when we are out playing in the park or while traveling in a car. That’s why babies and kids need to wear sunglasses!
Because of that… mom bought my first sunnies when I was 6 month old. I have told the stories about my Baby Banz and Kids Banz sunglasses in the below entries. Have fun reading!
As I am older… I need sunnies that is a bit more fashionable and pretty so mom bought this red Disney Mickey Sunglasses!!
I really love wearing my Disney Mickey Sunglasses because it make me kind of vogue and great looking don’t you think.
Here are some more reasons why do kids need to wear sun glasses. Credit the information to The Sun Authority. Thanks!!!
The greatest amount of UV damage to the eye occurs during the first 18 years of life, which makes it extremely important for children to wear sunglasses.
Too much sun exposure at an early age contributes to damage that can turn into cataracts and macular degeneration when children get older. Sunglasses also offer protection for the delicate skin around your child’s eyes and eyelids. The Skin Cancer Foundation instructs parents to have children over 6 months wear sunglasses. Babies under 6 months should be kept out of direct sunlight.
According to Prevent Blindness America, children’s sunglasses should block 99 to 100 percent of both types of untraviolet rays: UVA and UVB. Children typically spend more time outdoors, especially when the sun is brightest, which also makes them more susceptible to damage from UV rays.
Here’s the breakdown:
- UVA is lower-energy ultraviolet radiation that can penetrate skin and eyes more deeply. Because UVA rays can penetrate the eye, they have been shown to cause cataracts and macular degeneration.
- UVB is high-energy ultraviolet radiation that causes your skin to burn. The cornea is designed to block most of the UVB rays from the eye but overexposure can cause a “sunburn” of the cornea called photokeratitis. This is a serious and painful condition that can cause temporary vision loss most commonly called “snow blindness.”
Children’s sunglasses that offer the correct amount of protection will advertise that they block UV rays. But make sure the label says that it blocks 99-100 percent of these rays. In fact, glasses without the proper amount of protection can actually do more harm by dilating the eyes and letting in more of those damaging rays.