Optics specialists tell us that we are not yet aware of how vulnerable our 'sight' is, and this is because despite the fact that children's eyes are 20 times more sensitive than skin, only one in 50 children uses adequate protection during the summer.
It seems that in general we are sensitized to the problems caused by an inadequate exposure of ultraviolet rays on the skin, however we neglect to protect our eyes, and those of the smallest. From the Official College of Optometrist Opticians of Catalonia (COOOC), we offer these tips for the care of children's eyes:
It is essential that children wear sunglasses and hat or cap with front visor.
We must explain to our children that never look directly at the sun, even with the glasses on.
It is not recommended that children play in the sun between twelve in the morning and four in the afternoon, even if they wear protection.
The sand reflects up to 15% of solar radiation, therefore the beach is a place where we will take special care.
Some of the consequences of not protecting eyesight at an early age can be sunburn, acute corneal alterations, degenerative lesions and acute retinal burns. In severe, and longer-term cases, pathologies such as cataracts (first cause of reversible blindness), age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or pterygium, abnormal growth of tissue on the conjunctiva and the cornea that causes eye irritation may occur and foreign body sensation
On the other hand, the Consumer Institute of Extremadura, in a publication of three years ago reports that 'European legislation considers sunglasses as PPE (personal protective equipment), and submits them to a regulation that establishes the quality requirements that they have to gather to get the CE mark '
It is therefore necessary to understand that sunglasses can protect against harmful radiation, and that this aspect is more important than the design.
Tips to succeed in the purchase:
Children's glasses must be approved and bear the CE mark (European Compliance) as a minimum quality standard.
The acquisition in a sanitary establishment of optics is a guarantee of compliance with safety and quality parameters.
The glasses label should bear the name of the manufacturer and supplier; and the product will have built-in instructions for storage or cleaning, as well as warnings about its use during driving or for direct observation of the sun.
In childhood, sight is not yet fully developed.. The lens is the part of the eye that acts as a filter, and before the first year of life it lets 90% of the UVA radiation and 50% of the UVB, which reaches the retina directly, which can cause short-term damage long term.
Hence the importance of insisting on the use of sunglasses for children, and clearly indicating (once purchased) that they are not a toy but an instrument for the protection of your health.
