Encouraging your child to wear sunglasses during the winter is much more important than you’d think. Here are three reasons why it’s so important for your little one to keep their shades on when outdoors during the cold season, and how our Calgary optometrists can help protect your family’s vision all year round.
Did you know that young children are at a high risk of eye damage from UV rays? In addition to this, prolonged exposure to the sun over the course of their lifetime can increase their risk of developing AMD (age-related macular degeneration) or cataracts.
To protect your child’s long-term vision, most family optometrists suggest purchasing sunglasses for your little one and encouraging him/her to wear them when outside, no matter the season. When you are buying sunglasses for your child, make sure that they:
Many parents are aware of the dangers of UV rays and you may be vigilant about protecting your child’s skin with sunblock, hats, and clothing. However, neglecting a durable and quality pair of sunglasses can spell future vision problems for your little one.
At Blink Eyewear, our team of friendly and professional family eye doctors provides a wide range of ocular health services including eye exams, emergency eye care, glaucoma testing, dry eye care, and more. No matter your needs, age, or specific concerns, we can help you achieve optimal vision and maintain it all year round.
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It’s very important to protect your child’s vision against UV rays, especially because they likely spend a lot of time outdoors and their eyes haven’t fully developed yet. While you may encourage them to wear sunglasses on a warm summer’s day, did you know that it’s just as important for them to protect their eyes when the ground is covered with snow?
Here are three reasons why you must ensure your child wears sunglasses during the cold season:
Snow reflects 80% of the sun’s rays. Protecting your child’s eyes during a snowy day is so important because snow reflects up to 80% of the sun’s harmful UV rays. That’s more than grass or even water. Sunglasses will protect your kid from snow blindness while making it easier to see.
It’ll protect their long-term eye health. Did you know that frequent UV exposure can put your child at a higher risk of developing serious eye diseases later on in life such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and even eye cancer.
Children are more prone to photokeratitis. Photokeratitis is a sunburn that affects your cornea instead of your skin. Because children’s eyes are more sensitive than adults, they are more prone to photokeratitis. Wearing sunglasses during the winter will protect your child’s eyes from the undesirable effects of a corneal burn including temporary vision loss, eye pain, headaches, and blurred vision.
Your Calgary Family Optometrist Can Help You Select The Right Sunglasses for Your Child
While you can buy sunglasses that are available online or in the supermarket, buying them from a trusted family optometrist will ensure that you select the right pair for your child. Your eye doctor can help you find a pair that suits your kid’s style, fits them snugly and offers total UVA and UVB protection.
If you want to know more about the benefits of wearing sunglasses for your whole family, or you need help selecting the right pair for your child now that winter is upon us, we can help! To book an eye exam, contact us at our Crowfoot, West Springs, or Creekside branches or give us a call 403-516-2292.
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Q. What UV protection should children’s sunglasses have? When you are buying sunglasses for your child, make sure that they provide 99-100% protection from both UVA and UVB rays.
Q. At what age should children start to wear sunglasses? It is recommended that your child starts wearing sunglasses when they are two to three years old because when they are any younger than that, it can be physically difficult to do.
Q. If my child wears a wide-brimmed hat, does he/she need to wear sunglasses? While you should always encourage your child to wear a wide-brimmed hat when outside, it won’t replace the protection given by sunglasses. The sun’s rays that reflect off the ground will still enter your child’s eyes if they are only wearing a hat.
Blink Eyewear boasts the largest collection of eyewear in Calgary, but our 3 locations are also home to the region’s finest optometrists. Just as you will not find a better store to shop for your eyewear, you will not find a better vision clinic to do your eye exam or treat your eye condition.
Go ahead and Blink; what you see is really what you get. Call one of our store numbers or fill out the form below to book an appointment.