Finally it seems that the good weather is here to stay in these parts (or rather the sun and the heat in abundance) and although the sun creams are already coming out of the drawer, what about the sunglasses for the little ones? Why Children's eyes are very sensitive to solar radiation and should be protected.
The Official College of Opticians-Optometrists of the Region of Murcia has warned that the eyes of children are more vulnerable than those of adults to the harmful effects of solar radiation. And now that the kids spend more time outdoors, we go to the beach, to the pool ... they are much more exposed to these pernicious effects.
The consequences of prolonged sun exposure during childhood can be serious, and the younger the child is. Before the first year of life, the lens, which acts as a filter, allows 90% of UVA radiation and 50% of UVB to pass through the retina. At these ages it is difficult to wear sunglasses, that's why you have to resort to others the protective elements (little beads, caps ... and look for the shadow).
Other reasons that make babies' eyes more vulnerable are that their pupils remain more dilated and that the pigmentation of the eye, which darkens over time and protects against radiation, is not complete. Light-eyed children are more exposed.
Sunglasses protect children's eyes, but not just any sunglasses. Because "toy" sunglasses do not block ultraviolet radiation. The best thing to get 100% protection is to buy an approved optical glasses, with professional advice and the CE mark.
In addition, next to the sunglasses we have to take into account other eye protection elements such as hats, visors and caps, umbrellas ... Especially important if they are going to be outdoors for a long time, on excursions, on field or beach days ...
In any case, we remind you of the tips to buy children's sunglasses, so that they are truly effective and meet the protection requirements.
Consequences of excessive solar radiation in the eyes
Excessive radiation received in the eyes of children can have short and long term consequences.. Among the short-term damages that arise are keratitis or sunburn of the cornea. Children have symptoms of pain, photophobia and redness of the eyes.
In the long term, the damage can be more serious and corneal alterations, degenerative lesions or acute retinal burns occur, which permanently affect vision. There are studies that relate solar radiation during childhood with the appearance of pathologies in adulthood such as cataracts, the leading cause of reversible blindness in the world.
Other related diseases are age-related macular degeneration (cause of irreversible blindness in people over 65 years of age) or abnormal growth of tissue on the cornea, which causes eye irritation and foreign body sensation and may decrease visual capacity ...
In short, we must remember that sunglasses for children prevent eye diseases and therefore we must be attentive to protect them, since Children's eyes are very sensitive to solar radiation and may suffer damage..
Photos | Thinkstock
Via | Infosalus
In Babies and more | Summer with children: protect them from the sun, Babies must wear sunglasses, Children under three must wear sunglasses
