Protect young eyes in the sun
21 August 2009
When you are putting on your sunscreen, particularly on a beach or if you are out in snow remember to put your child's and your sunglasses on too. If you haven't got any, go out and get some. 
Dr Susan Blakeney, Optometric Advisor to the College of Optometrists
Parents are risking sun damage to their children's eyes by not making them wear sunglasses or large hats as protection, according to the College of Optometrists.
The findings from 2,000 parents who took part in a survey, show that three quarters of parents don't protect their children's eyes in the sun. A third of parents don't buy sunglasses at all and of those that do buy sunglasses, half consider price over protection.
Dr Susan Blakeney, Optometric Advisor to the College of Optometrists told the health information team: "I am shocked that so many parents aren't ensuring their child's eyes are protected in the sun. Ultraviolet (UV) light is linked to cataracts and may be linked to age-related macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of blindness in the Western world."
Dr Blakeney continued: "The pupils of the eye get bigger when you wear dark sunglasses and if they don't have any UV light protection in them, it may be best to not wear them at all. Wide-brimmed hats or baseball caps, anything which shields the eyes from the sun, can also protect your child's eyes. You may wish to put your child in both, sunglasses with UV light protection and a hat."
"Parents should look for sunglass lenses with UV light absorption such as those with the CE European Standards mark and/or the British standard symbol, UV 400," advises Dr Blakeney. "Also make sure the glasses fit properly, you can visit an optometrist to check this. If they are uncomfortable your child won't want to wear them and you're fighting a losing battle. No glasses should hurt, they may just need adjusting."
"When you are putting on your sunscreen, particularly on a beach or if you are out in snow remember to put your child's and your sunglasses on too. If you haven't got any, go out and get some." she added.
Mr Simon Kelly of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists' commented: "Over-exposure to ultraviolet light without proper eye protection can cause a temporary but painful burn to the surface of the eye (cornea) - similar to sunburn on the skin."
"Staring directly at the sun can permanently scar the retina, the area at the back of the eye responsible for vision," he continued. "Never look at the sun with a telescope. Make sure that your children know this."
Mr Larry Benjamin, also of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, added: "Very young children shouldn't be exposed to bright sunshine at all."
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