Our mission here at Real Kids Shades is to help parents understand the dangerous effects of allowing your eyes to be over-exposed to the sun and how necessary quality sunglasses are in keeping your kids’ peepers protected. There are a range of eye issues that are being linked to UV exposure, ranging from photokeratitis (sunburn of the cornea) to cataracts, and more. In fact, the World Health Organization estimates that 20% of cataracts may be caused by UV exposure.
The good news is sunburned corneas and related issues can be prevented when you’re equipped with the right gear, and Prevent Blindness America (PBA) has declared May as “UV Awareness Month” and in preparation for the summer season, is using the time to help spread the word about the dangers of UV exposure and how to protect the eyes. And because UV damage is cumulative, it’s important to start protecting your eyes from day one.
Below are some of the tips PBA shared in a recent press release. Although we’ve likely shared some of these previously, it never hurts to have a reminder… especially when it comes to your health and the health of your loved ones.
Sunglasses should:
- Reduce glare
- Filter out 99 to 100% of UV rays
- Protect the eyes
- Be comfortable to wear
- Not distort colors
In addition to the wonderful information provided in the press release, PBA has dedicated an entire section of its website as a resource for those looking to learn more about the dangers of UV exposure, who’s at risk, and how to choose protective gear. We highly encourage parents to visit preventblindness.org/uv for more information.
As Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of PBA, notes, “The key to healthy vision is to make eye protection part of our daily routine. We encourage everyone to make a committed effort to wear UV-blocking sunglasses year-round to help protect the gift of sight,” and we here at Real Kids Shades couldn’t agree more! Check out our website to view our stylish shades designed just for kids. With so many fun styles and colors to choose from, your kids will look forward to putting them on every day!
