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UV
 While
many people recognise the need to protect the skin from the effects of
UV rays, few people realise that the human eye is ten times more
sensitive to sunlight.
UV
damage is cumulative and irreversible. Without adequate protection a
child could absorb 80 per cent of a lifetimes’ UV into the eye by the
time a he or she reaches the age of 18.
Cumulative exposure to UV is one of the main risk factors of age related
macular degeneration – the leading cause of sight loss in the UK and
cataracts, a clouding of the eyes lens, which affects one in three
people aged over 65 years. Repeated exposure to sunlight can also
increase the risk of cancer of the eyelid and the skin surrounding the
eye and of Pterygium – a growth on the white of the eye, which
encroaches onto the cornea and can obscure vision.
Guidelines to protect your children's sight - and your own! - from UV
damage:
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Wear good
quality sunglasses and a peaked hat when spending any time outdoors
especially on the beach or by water where there is a lot of
reflected light.
-
Brimmed hats
and sunshades attached to buggies generally provide adequate
protection for babies and very young children.
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Sunglasses
should carry the European Standard CE mark or the British Standard
BSEN 1836:1997 to ensure they offer a safe level of UV protection.
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Don't let
children wear "toy" sunglasses or those not providing at least 99
per cent protection from UVA and UVB - they can actually cause more
damage because the tinted lenses dilate the pupil allowing more UV
light to enter the eye.
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Choose plastic
or toughened glass lenses for added durability.
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Ensure the
sunglasses fit well and feel comfortable – We can advise on styles
and sizes to ensure maximum protection and fit.
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