There’s sunscreen lotion for your skin but how do you protect your kids’ eyes from the sun? We‘ve got the lowdown on what you need to do to make sure your kids stay safe this summer…
-
Start early with eye protection.
Too many people realise in adulthood that they should have been protecting their eyes when they were young. It’s never too early to start, especially bearing in mind that 80% of a person’s lifetime UV exposure happens before the age of 18.
baby girl in sunglasses and hat – image courtesy of shutterstock
-
Wear Glasses with full UV protection
Ok so let’s start with the basics – sunglasses. You already know that you should protect your skin from UV rays but your kids’ eyes also need similar protection. UV rays come from the sun but they may also be reflected from surfaces such as water or sand. The best way to protect your kids’ eyes is to buy (and always wear) sunglasses with 100% protection against UVA and UVB rays. Many brands, both expensive and inexpensive offer this protection – there’s a lot of choice.
girl in sunglasses image courtesy of shutterstock
-
Always wash your hands and don’t rub your eyes
The best way to protect yourself from communicable diseases is by washing your hands regularly. This is even more important if you want to avoid eye –related conditions such as conjunctivitis. You should ensure your children wash their hands thoroughly before applying any products around the eye area and they should also avoid rubbing their eyes before they wash them.
-
Protect the eye area.
Even if you wear sunglasses every time you go outside, this doesn’t offer full protection for the surrounding eye area. Most sunglasses usually have gaps on the sides where UV rays can enter. In addition to wearing sunglasses, you can minimise the risk your kids are exposed to by ensuring they always wear a hat with a brim that is at least 3 inches wide.
girl in big sunhat image courtesy of shutterstock
-
Drink plenty of water and eat healthily.
You’ll be surprised to learn that what you put into your body has a big effect on your eyes, although it’s not just about eating carrots. There are many other foods which are rich in nutrients which are essential for their eyesight and can prevent vision problems in the long run. Foods which are high in Vitamin C, Vitamin E and zinc can help with (and prevent) the progression of symptoms related to eye diseases.
boy drinking water – image courtesy of Shutterstock
For more information on how to protect your eyes and your kids’ eyes, head here. You can also shop for a pair of sunglasses and eyeglasses for kids here.
Pin It for later…
