All eyes on you

Whilst it is second nature to throw a pair of sunnies on when we leave the house, how often do you stop and consider the eyes of your children?

Children’s eyes are particularly sensitive, and what we now know is that too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation in childhood can cause short and long-term eye damage. By ‘Slapping’ on a broad-brimmed hat it can reduce UV rays reaching your eyes by up to 50%, but if you ‘slide’ on a pair of sunglasses as well you can reduce the UV rays by up to 98%.

If your child is complaining about the brightness of the sun, or the sun glare is affecting their participation in sports or other outside activities, they could be experiencing eye damage.

Short term effects of UV radiation include: mild eye irritation, photokeratitis (excessive exposure to UV and painful to the eyes), acute photo keratopathy (akin to sunburn of the cornea), inflammation, excessive blinking and photophobia (difficulty looking at strong light).

If any of those symptoms are ignored, longterm problems could occur including cancer, cataracts, macular degeneration, pterygium (an overgrowth of the conjunctiva on to the cornea) or climatic droplet keratopathy (or cloudiness of the cornea). The good news is that simply wearing sunglasses can help prevent these conditions.

When should children wear sunglasses?

The intensity of UV radiation varies across the year. It can pass through clouds and be reflected off buildings, asphalt, concentre, water, sand and snow. UV radiation can peak during school hours, and on a regular school day, children’s eyes can be exposed to UV radiation for up to two hours or more. When the UV level reaches three or above, the Victorian Government recommends a number of sun protection measures should be put in place. This is generally from September through until the end of April each year.

Which sunglasses do I buy?

We recommend sunglasses that: • are category 3 and meet the Australian Standard AS/NZS 1067.1:2016.

• are wrap-around and close-fitting sunglasses; these reduce peripheral UV exposure.

• have lenses that are made of a polycarbonate material. These are impact-resistant, making them a better choice for active kids.

• are not toy or cheap fashion sunglasses as they will not meet the Australian Standards.

Five tips for getting your kids to wear sunglasses

1. Wear sunglasses yourself. Model the behaviour you want to see in your children. Remember even on overcast days, UV rays can still cause damage. 2. Choose wrap-around, close-fitting sunglasses. They’re suitable for active kids as they don’t fall off. 3. Choose polycarbonate lenses as these are very impact-resistant, making them a better choice for your kids! 4. Talk to your children about eye health; UV radiation cannot be seen or felt. Let them know sunglasses aren’t just a fashion accessory. 5. Allow kids to pick the colour. They are more likely to wear the sunglasses if they are involved in the decision-making!

Always remember that a combination of sun protection measures is best. SLIP on sun protective clothing, SLOP on broad spectrum sunscreen, SLAP on a broad-brim hat, SEEK shade and SLIDE on sunglasses.

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For ages 3–18