Protect children's eyes from the sun

Most parents wouldn't allow their youngsters to go outside without sunscreen, especially in the summertime.

But they don't think about protecting their children's eyes.

"I know I need sunglasses when I go outside," says Daniel Island mom Morgan Tisdale. "But I haven't really thought of making my kids wear them because the sun doesn't seem to bother them as much as it bothers me."

A VSP Vision Care survey of more than 2,000 adults found that 82 percent of parents make their children wear sunscreen while outdoors in the sun, but only 32 percent outfit their offspring with eye-protecting sunglasses.

Yet experts say that going outside without eye protection can have long-term effects.

"It's a preventive situation," says Michael Criswell of Premier Eye Care.

Criswell says he recommends sunglasses for all his patients, children and adults.

"It's not like something is going to happen next week if you don't wear sunglasses, but that's not to say that something won't happen down the line," he says.

There are two types of harmful radiation from the sun: UVA, which penetrates the skin and causes premature aging and wrinkling, and UVB, the primary cause of sunburn and skin cancer.

Research shows that children's eyes can be damaged by sun exposure. Some health officials estimate that 70 percent of a person's lifetime sun exposure happens before age 18, according to the National Institutes of Health. Children's eyes are more susceptible to ultraviolet exposure because their eye lenses are clearer than adults'.

Ultraviolet light has been linked to cataracts, macular degeneration, intraocular tumors, eyelid skin cancer and abnormal growths, including cancer, on the eye surface. Ultraviolet-light and sun-exposure damage is cumulative over a person's life.

"The tissue in the eye is similar to the tissue in the skin," Criswell says. "You want to protect your eyes from the sun for the same reason you want to protect your skin from the sun."

Because skin cancer can be caused by UV rays, sunglasses are important anytime there's sun exposure, not just on the beach, by the pool or during outdoor recreation.

In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests not just sunglasses, but also a hat with a 3-inch brim or a bill facing forward.

"It's hard getting a child to wear sunglasses," says North Charleston mom Beth Reynolds. "I have bought my children sunglasses, but they wear them for a day or two, and they either break them or they get lost. They treat them like toys."

Criswell says many kids like wearing sunglasses. And if parents start them early, the kids will grow up wearing them.

"They are kind of fashionable now," he says. "They make kids' sunglasses with popular characters on them, and that makes kids want to wear them."

You can buy kids' sunglasses at specialty stores such as Sunglass Hut or at opticians' offices, but there are also good ones available at chain department stores.

Criswell says it's OK to buy inexpensive sunglasses. The ability to block UV light is not dependent on the price tag.

The best glasses are those that protect from both UVA and UVB rays. Look for the American Optometric Association Seal of Acceptance, which means the sunglasses block 99 percent to 100 percent of UV radiation.

"They are supposed to have a tag on it that tells you," he says. "If it doesn't have a tag, I wouldn't recommend buying them."

But don't focus on the color or darkness of sunglass lenses. Criswell says glasses can filter out UVA and UVB rays without being tinted.

"The tint is for comfort," he says.

VSP Vision Care says parents should consider the following things when buying sunglasses:

--Don't buy toy sunglasses. Buy real ones with UV protection. Shatterproof polycarbonate lenses that don't pop out of frames are best.

--Sunglasses shouldn't change the color scheme. Gray lenses are recommended because they absorb light across the color spectrum equally. That means they won't distort the colors of objects you're seeing.

--Lenses should block peripheral UV radiation. Purchase eyewear that is large enough for your child's head or extends out to the sides to block peripheral UV rays.

One important factor to remember is that sunglass lenses are required by the Food and Drug Administration to be impact-resistant, but not shatterproof. Many parents prefer polycarbonate lenses since they are strong, durable and impact-resistant. Special sport eyeglasses and sport sunglasses designed for rough activities are available as well.

Brenda Rindge can be reached at 937-5713 or brindge@postandcourier.com.