Why are children's eyes more sensitive?
☼ Children's eyes do not have natural protection.
The lens in a child's eye has almost no protective pigments, unlike an adult's. A child's crystalline lens is totally transparent with a very large pupil. Children's eyes therefore absorb much more harmful solar radiation than adults. What are the dangers of solar radiation for children's eyes?
☼ Like skin, eyes have a limited tolerance of sun.
Any unprotected exposure to solar radiation uses up the eye's sun tolerance and can cause irreversible lesions of the ocular tissues. The most fragile tissues are the crystalline lens and the retina.
☼ UVA are the most harmful rays for the eyes.
UVA radiation increases the risk of cataract (early ageing of the lens) and macular degeneration (loss of central vision from the retina). Lesions caused by UVA are late developing.
☼ The dangers of infrared radiation for the eyes.
In the short term, infrared radiation causes burning and stinging. In the long term it causes slow degeneration of the ocular tissues, thereby accelerating the risk of cataract.
☼ Warning, children with light coloured eyes are even more sensitive.
They particularly need good protection. How should you protect your child's eyes properly ?
☼ Outlaw "gadget" sunglasses.
They do not filter UV rays and stimulate dilation of the pupil. The child thinks it is protected and opens its eyes wide to the sun. The eye therefore absorbs far too much harmful radiation. Conclusion: "gadget" sunglasses are a real danger for children.
☼ Permanent protection.
No rest for your eyes! Constant protection is necessary. Solar radiation reflects from all surfaces and in all weathers: in hot, sunny weather but also when it's cloudy, at the sea or in the mountains and even in town…
☼ Choose frames properly designed for children's morphology.
The frames must cover enough to surround the child's eye and block out as much solar radiation as possible.
