Protect Your kids' eyes against UV rays at all times

Protecting Your Eyes From UV Radiation: A Practical Guide

Every year, the same story. When the warm days arrive, it is time take out our nicest sunglasses that will match our summer outfits. Throughout the summer, our sunglasses will be with us at the park, in the car or on a patio; we can’t do without them! Have we forgotten anything though? Should our kids, who are insured and whose well-being is our concern, also benefit from UV protection? Absolutely! And not only during the summer. Our kids’ eyes must always be protected, and this is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Choosing the Right Sunglasses for Your Kid

In sunny days, kids only want one thing: to enjoy the sun and play outside with their friends. Whether it is during the school break or even at the beginning of the school year, protecting their precious eyes from UV radiation is not a luxury but a necessity. Let’s not be wrong about this: dangerous radiation does not take a break when the school year begins! Optometrists formally explain this: for children under 12, the lens of the eye swallows up to seven times more UV radiation than for older children. This year let’s do things differently, and let’s provide our younger kids with quality sunglasses. Whether it is for fun activities, sports or a picnic, proper UV protection must be in place.

The beginning of the new school year is an ideal moment to make an appointment with your optometrist for an eye exam (which is necessary before the beginning of classes). This will allow you to discuss your optometrist your kids' needs to ensure optimal eye health and safety for the entire year.

What Frame Combines Safety and Reliability?

As for regular eyeglasses, choosing the right sunglasses is vital to encourage your kid to wear them daily. Is your kid fully energetic? Are his activities as dynamic as him? Optometrists and opticians recommend plastic frames, which are practical, resistant and difficult to bend or distort. As far as shape and size are concerned, opt for round frames or something similar, fully covering the eyes to prevent parasite UV rays from finding their way through at the edges.

What to Do If Your Kid Already Wears Prescription Glasses?

If your kid already wears prescription glasses, optometrists will have no problem developing prescription lenses for the sunglasses as well. The optician will be essential to assist you in choosing the right frame. It is very important that the kid tries the sunglasses in an eye clinic or an eyecare centre to ensure that the frame is secure and comfortable. You can also reserve the sunglasses online and come try them out with your kid when it suits your schedule.

UV Protection Is of the Utmost Importance

Evidently, choosing a pair of sunglasses that your kid will like is an advantage if you want him to get used to protecting his eyes from UV radiation. Do not forget, however, that more important than the aesthetic appearance is UV protection. There are four levels of protection: from 0 to 4, from the less efficient to the most efficient. Not every pair of sunglasses can filter 100% of the UV rays. Thus, it is very important to check the sunglasses’ label; optometrists and opticians strongly recommend UV400 protection.

Developing Your Kid’s Eye Health Awareness

Getting your kid used to wear his sunglasses might be problematic … but it is an obligation! You should not wait until the first signs of danger from solar radiation. The damages on the eye may have multiplied and it might be too late to reverse them. Optometrists and opticians make this very clear.

At OptoPlus, our opticians are trained to offer top-quality eyecare, even to the younger ones. Your kids can benefit from an eye examination in one of our clinics and find a pair of sunglasses that they will love! Please note that eye exams for persons under the age of 18 are reimbursed by the Assurance maladie du Québec, which is a great reason to protect your kids’ eyes!

http://www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca/en/citizens/health-insurance/healthcare/Pages/optometric-services.aspx