An Outdoor Eye Care Guide for Young Children

Children have some of the highest rates of vision impairment among all age demographics. According to experts such as the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), up to 450 million kids worldwide have some degree of vision issue that requires treatment. Of these, nearly all experience refractive errors that are often progressive.

Among other influencing aspects, like nutrition and disease, exposure to external factors, such as UV rays from the sun, play a big role in children’s ocular wellness. In general, direct sun damage in the eyes can result in different issues ranging from corneal sunburns to triggering cataract formation. Unfortunately, most children’s eyes are highly vulnerable since the eyeball lenses that filter out the sun’s rays only begin to work somewhat after the age of 12. As such, it’s important for kids to be taught the right eye care practices that can keep their vision safe whenever they’re outdoors and under the unforgiving sun. If you’re not sure where to start without overwhelming your little one, here are a few simple but easy-to-follow guiding habits that kids should know about as soon as possible:

Sunglasses are a must year-round

An Optometrist.org post reveals that individuals reach up to 80% of their lifetime UV exposure by age 18. A significant chunk of this is absorbed through unprotected eyes. Sadly, a survey from the Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) states that only 33% of respondents say their kids regularly use sun-protective eyewear. The primary reason for this is that most said they felt it unnecessary if it’s not sunny. In truth, UV rays are always present and damaging.

With this in mind, it’s essential that kids know to wear the right UV-combatting eyewear no matter the season. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to use sunglasses that have a UV400 marking. Eyebuydirect’s kid sunglasses can block out up to 100% of UV rays and are becoming very popular among this demographic. Additionally, bigger frames usually translate to more coverage. For kids, this can mean using wraparound styles that have a light tint from trusted brands like Ray-Ban, which use bio-based materials so as not to distort their natural color perception and visual comfort.

Sunscreen should be applied everywhere

Health institutes, like HealthLink BC, specifically suggest that kids use products with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 on the regular, with reapplications made every two hours or as needed based on activity. For optimal results, it’s also ideal for kids to have access to sunscreens that pass the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) standards for safety. These ones are free from potentially cancer-causing chemicals like oxybenzone, benzophenone, octyl methoxycinnamate, octocrylene, diisopropyl adipate, retinoic acid, and retinyl palmitate, which may be more harmful to sensitive bodies.

That said, children old enough to apply their own products should be mindful of proper application. Regarding ocular health, this means that they should also know to apply a thin but even layer across the eye area. Since the skin in this area is thinner, it’s easier for UV rays to pass through and penetrate the eyeballs and eyelids. To prevent any uncomfortable greasiness or stinging that may deter kids, specially formulated options like SunBioLogic Kids Sunscreen Stick may be preferable since they’re less messy and easy for young hands to use, although adult supervision is still recommended.

Seeking shade is important

As they say, prevention is better than cure, and the most effective way to keep kids’ eyes healthy even while outdoors is to minimize direct sun exposure. This is why young people are often advised to seek shade as much as possible, especially during peak hours between 11 am and 3 pm, even while they’re wearing the two aforementioned safety essentials. 

Of course, if shade from structures or trees is unavailable, kids should be encouraged to wear sun hats. These can come in various styles, but wide-brimmed ones from labels like Puffin Gear work best. Proudly made in Canada with sustainable materials, they have a UPF50+ rating, meaning that they block almost 98% of broad-spectrum UVA and UVB radiation.