With its cost-effective and effective characteristics, outdoor activities have become a must-have item for every household to prevent and control myopia. Many parents are planning to take their children outdoors to bask in the sun during the holidays. However, the sun is dazzling in spring and summer. Have children’s eyes been protected? Many of us adults have the habit of wearing sunglasses. Do children need to wear sunglasses? Will wearing sunglasses for outdoor activities affect the prevention and control effect? Today I’m here to answer your questions for all you parents out there!
Why do kids need sunglasses more than adults?
Sunlight is like a double-edged sword for the eyes. Although sunlight stimulating the retina can produce an appropriate amount of dopamine, reducing the probability of myopia. But eye damage caused by long-term UV exposure has a cumulative effect and, like myopia, is irreversible. What’s more important to note is that compared with the fully developed refractive system of adults, the child’s lens is more “transparent”. It is like an incomplete filter and is more susceptible to invasion and damage from ultraviolet rays.
If the eyes are exposed to ultraviolet rays over time, it is likely to cause damage to the cornea, conjunctiva, lens and retina, causing eye diseases, such as cataracts, pterygium, macular degeneration, etc. Compared with adults, children’s eyes are more susceptible to the effects of ultraviolet radiation, so special attention should be paid to eye sun protection.
Studies have shown that children’s annual UV exposure is three times that of adults, and 80% of lifetime UV exposure occurs before the age of 20. Therefore, prevention should be carried out as early as possible to nip the possible risk of eye diseases in the bud. The American Academy of Optometry (AOA) once said: Sunglasses are a necessity for people of any age, because children’s eyes have better permeability than adults, and ultraviolet rays can more easily reach the retina, so sunglasses are very important for them. So it’s not that children can’t wear sunglasses, but they need to wear them more than adults.
Things to note when wearing sunglasses
1. It is not recommended for infants and young children aged 0-3 to wear sunglasses for sun protection. The age 0-3 is a “critical period” for children’s vision development. Infants and young children before the age of 3 need more stimulation from bright light and clear objects. If you wear sunglasses, the child’s eyes lack time to adjust to the normal light environment, and the macular area of the fundus cannot be effectively stimulated. The visual function may be affected, and in severe cases, it may lead to amblyopia. Parents should pay attention to shielding the baby’s eyes when going out. That’s it.
2. Children aged 3-6 years old wear it “briefly” in strong light. After the baby reaches 3 years old, the visual development has reached a relatively complete level. When the child is in a strong light environment, such as in snowy mountains, oceans, grasslands, beaches, etc. When children are exposed, they need to wear sunglasses to provide radiation protection for their eyes. Children under 6 years old should wear sunglasses as little as possible when conditions permit. It is best to limit the wearing time to 30 minutes at a time and not exceed 2 hours at most. They should take them off immediately after entering the room or going to a cool place. sunglasses.
3. Children after the age of 6 should not wear them continuously for more than 3 hours. Before the age of 12 is a sensitive period for children’s visual development, you must be more careful when wearing sunglasses. It is only recommended to wear sunglasses outdoors in strong sunlight, and the continuous time should not exceed 3 hours. . When the sun’s rays are relatively strong, or when the surrounding environment reflects strong sunlight, you need to wear sunglasses. Ultraviolet rays are relatively strong between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., so exposure to the sun should be avoided as much as possible.
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Post time: Dec-15-2023