Eye protection from the sun is important for children

Julbo, one of the top manufacturer's of sunglasses for children has this to say about why it's so important to protect children's eyes from harmful sunlight.

Children’s eyes do not yet have a mature capacity for ocular protection; it takes about 25 years to develop. In the meantime, UV rays are permanently breaking down the eye’s capacity to absorb sunlight. Exposure without protection is dangerous for the surface of the eye, as well as for the crystalline lens and retina.

Between the ages of 3 and 10, children are extremely active and they need sunglasses that can take a lot of knocks while still looking cool and providing great eye protection.

At Julbo, every model of kids sunglasses is designed to improve protection, hold firm on the face in all conditions, and ensure absolute comfort and total functionality.

When it comes to children, Julbo believes the world needs their vision.
Top-of-the-line lenses for kids sunglasses, just like the grown-ups

• All Julbo lenses are optical class 1
• They offer 100% protection against UVA, B and C rays
• Sunglasses are shock resistant
  

High-quality frames for children’s sunglasses

* Wrap-around design provides excellent coverage
* Shock absorption
* Curved temples

UV Facts

UV Facts:

How does Ultraviolet Light affect a child’s eyes?

2 main types of Ultraviolet (UV) Light:

UVA - is visible and causes tanning and contributes to aging.

UVB - is invisible and causes sunburn and skin cancer. UVB is more damaging.

• 80% of a lifetime sun exposure is obtained before age 18.
• Children from the ages of birth to adolescence are at greatest risk to accrue eye damage from ultraviolet light.
• Immediately after birth, nearly all UV Light is transmitted through the lens to the retina of the infant’s eye because an infant’s lenses have not begun the critical development necessary to block UV Light.
• During childhood, the lens transmittance decreases as the child’s eyes further develop and by the age of 25, the lens absorbs almost all UV Light.
• UV exposure contributes to the development of many eye disorders such as Photokeratitis, a reversible sunburning of the cornea; Cataracts, a clouding of the eye’s natural lens which reduces vision; and Skin Cancer can develop on the eyelids and surrounding skin.

** Information provided by the Prevent Blindness America Scientific Advisory Committee Task Force

on Ultraviolet Radiation.

How to protect against UV Radiation

• Wear a wide brim hat. This will reduce at least 50% of UV Light.
• Use UV400 lenses in a wrap around style Sunglasses. The lenses should also be made of Polycarbonate for added impact protection; especially for children.
• Even prescription glasses should use lenses that have a UV component in the material. UV protection can be incorporated in almost all materials AND is inexpensive and will NOT interfere with vision.
• Check your local weather reports for the daily UV Index.
• Consult your Optical Professional for other ways to ensure safe and long term “Fun in the Sun.”

More Ultra Violet Radiation (UVR) Facts

Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) is high-energy radiation from the Sun, which is capable of causing damage to living organisms. Ultraviolet radiation is classified by wavelength into three regions:

1. UVA - is thought to contribute to premature aging and wrinkling of the skin and has recently been implicated as a cause of skin cancer.
2. UVB - more dangerous than UVA and has been implicated as the major cause of skin cancers, sun burning and cataracts.
3. UVC - is extremely dangerous but does not reach the earth's surface due to absorption in the atmosphere.

Ultra Violet Protection Factor (UPF)- this rating indicates how much UVR is blocked by a material. For example, a material with a UPF rating of 20 would only allow 1/20th of the hazardous UVR falling on its surface to pass through it. This means that this material would reduce the UVR exposure by a factor of 20. Stated another way, this material would block 95% of the UVR and transmit only 5%. UPF 50+ blocks more than 98%.

Sun Protection Factor (SPF)- this rating is used for sunscreens, which refers to the blocking strength of the sunscreen and the length of time it protects. For example, a SPF of 50 will allow you and your child to stay in the sun 50 times longer than the normal time it takes unprotected skin to change color (tan) or burn. If your skin burns in 10 minutes, than your protection will last up to 500 minutes (multiply 50 by 10).

Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before going out in the sun, because the chemicals need time to absorb into the skin. The best sunscreen to choose has broad-spectrum protection that can block out both UVA and UVB rays.

What is the UV Index?

The UV index is an international standard measurement of how strong the ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is at a particular place on a particular day. It is a scale primarily used in daily forecasts aimed at the general public.

Its purpose is to help people to effectively protect themselves from UV light, of which excessive exposure causes sunburns, eye damage such as cataracts, skin aging, and skin cancer (see the section health effects of ultraviolet light). Public-health organizations recommend that people protect themselves (for example, by applying sunscreen to the skin, wearing uv protective clothing and wearing a hat) when the UV index is 3 or higher. For more information, go to http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html.

Are the sun’s rays more intense at higher altitudes?

UV radiation increases 4% for every 1000 foot increase in elevation (i.e. UV radiation is 20% more intense at 5000 feet than at sea level)

Can I get sunburned from the sun reflecting on a surface?

UV rays that are reflected can be just as damaging as direct exposure

• Sand/concrete reflects 25% UV radiation
• Snow reflects 85% UV radiation
• Water reflects 100% UV radiation

Thanks to Baby Banz for this useful info!