Summer is a wonderful time for children to explore the world. But as parents, we must be mindful of our child’s health and safety, especially when it comes to their eyes. One of the ways that we can do this is by keeping their eyes safe from harmful UV rays. When you expose your child to too much sunlight, it will damage his or her retina and lead to eye problems later in life. So how can you keep them protected? Here are some tips on how you can protect your child’s eyes from the sun to avoid a trip to the opticians for a children’s eye exam or worse – the ER.
Make sunglasses (with UV protection) a priority for your child
You should make your child wear sunglasses to protect their eyes from the sun so they can enjoy life instead of being blinded by it! Sunglasses are a must-have for any good time in the sun. Sunglasses protect eyes from UV rays and if your child has that, they’ll be able to enjoy their summer without worrying about potential eye problems later on down the road! Some sunglasses are better at blocking out UV rays than others, so be sure to check the protection levels of the sunglasses before you buy them!
Teach your child not to look directly at the sun
Teach your child not to look directly at the sun! No one should ever gaze up into the sky on an especially sunny day without wearing sunglasses or some other protective eye-wear, especially children. The intensity of direct sunlight can cause damage and permanent loss of sight if exposed for too long and yes, that’s even through squinted eyes! If you see your child staring up into the sunny sky or are worried that their eyes might have been sun burnt (just like the skin, eyes can get sun burnt, too) you should take them to see an optician and push for an eye test for kids.
Arrange frequent shade breaks for your kids
Staying in the sun too long can have a lot of negative effects on both adults and children. Not only can your skin get burnt and potentially develop skin cancer due to the UV rays of the sun, but you can also suffer from heatstroke and develop sun burnt eyes and even permanent eye damage. Taking a break and getting the kids out of direct sunlight every hour or so will do them wonders of good both for their eyesight and the rest of their health. Spending too much time in the sun can lead to eye discomfort, eye strain, and can bring on aging eye problems like
cataracts. To settle any eye worries, you can book a free children’s eye exam to rule out the early onset of cataracts. Even when you’re in the shade, you’re still getting hit with those UV rays – just not as aggressively – so the darker the shade time and the more of it, the better! So remember: protect their eyes with shade breaks throughout the day.
