How do I choose sunglasses for my child?
Without a doubt, sunglasses are an essential accessory in the summer months and beyond, as they protect us from the sun's ultraviolet radiation and its reflections. At the same time, this is even more necessary for children, as they have a smaller amount of pigment in the iris of the eye, making UV radiation even more dangerous for them.
Children, until the age of 18, their eyes are still developing and according to research, these children's eyes will have been exposed to about half of the total amount of radiation that an average person is exposed to throughout their life.
It is a fact that various eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration that may appear later in life are due to the sum of exposure to UV radiation. So, keeping this in mind, protecting our eyes should be done from an early age, so as to limit the possibility of developing these diseases.
At what age should my child wear sunglasses?
According to doctors, up to six months of age, an infant should not be exposed to the sun extensively. After this age, the walks outside the house and the outdoor activities that the baby can enjoy, become more. According to the experts, this is also the right age for the child to put on his first sunglasses.
How can I convince my child to wear them?
Of course, many of us will wonder how we will convince our child to wear sunglasses... The most efficient way is imitation... that is, if we often wear our own glasses, it is very likely that our child will "imitate" us, wearing his/her sunglasses as well. In toddler and preschool age, it's good to let children choose their own glasses, in trendy colored frames that will make them happy to wear them.
In case our child is difficult to convince to wear sunglasses, what we can do is just patience. Give your child a few weeks before trying to get them to wear them again. Also, you can say how good you feel when you wear sunglasses, how beautiful and fashionable children with glasses are, etc.
What are the criteria to choose sunglasses for my child?
The most important criteria for choosing sunglasses for your child is to buy from specialized optical stores. Sunglasses, especially for children, should absorb 100% of UVA & UVB. These characteristics should be mentioned on the label of the product you will buy and that they are certified.
At the same time, we should bear in mind that the price of a product has nothing to do with the quality of protection it offers. Of course, sunglasses sold in toy stores or other non-optical stores should definitely be avoided, as there is a good chance that they will not meet the absorbency specifications and there is a good chance that they will cause more damage to the child's eyes, causing of serious damage that may, even if not immediately visible, appear at a later age.
Another main feature of this market should be the material the lens is made of. Choose organic lenses, which will prevent any injury in case of an accident, are scratch resistant and lighter than other lenses. As for the color of the lenses, keep in mind that their color is not related to absorbency. A good choice is medium tint lenses, so that they are not insufficient in bright sun, which will not cause strong dilation of the child's pupil.
What features should a pair of children sunglass frame should have?
There are various criteria by which we should choose a frame for children. The main reasons are the following:
- Stability: The frame fits well on the face of the infant/toddler/child without causing discomfort, i.e. being too tight or fitted.
- Comfort: The frame you choose should be comfortable and light with no corners to cause injury, made of flexible material such as TR-90, a modern material based on modern technology that offers flexibility and comfort, wearing it for many hours.
- Correct fit: The frame should sit as comfortably as possible high on the nose and close to the eyes, but without the lenses of the glasses touching the child's eyelashes.
What else can I do to protect my child from the sun?
In addition to wear glasses on your child, there are several ways to strengthen both the protection of their eyes and their children's skin, especially around the eyes. Have your children wear a wide-brimmed hat so that their eyes are covered with shade, especially during the bright sunshine hours, between 11am – 5pm. At the same time, apply sunscreen to areas near the eyes, as the area there is more sensitive and thinner.
OJO solutions for your eyes
At OJO, we offer solutions for your eyes in both sunglasses and optics for the whole family, men, women and children. In them, you can find a wide variety of frames made with the most modern technologies, suitable for different ages and needs, such as the TR-90 which is an ideal choice for your children. In combination with OJO high quality organic lenses, they can offer clear vision and an absolutely high-quality visual experience, with 100% protection from UVA & UVB light and are fully harmonized and meet the European Protection Standards EN ISO 12312-1: 2013.
You can find a variety of glasses in all OJO stores, along with the OJO offer 1+1 FREE. Furthermore, you can order online your sunglasses on our OJO e-shop, with free home delivery and free return. What is more, you can try them online through our OJO Virtual Try-on app!
The team of OJO opticians as well as our experienced staff are at your disposal to find together the best quality solutions for your eyes for you and your children.
