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Sunglasses are not a gadget!
Why protect Baby’s eyes?
The child is less sensitive to glare or pain than we are and blinks less. Results, without realizing it, he is more exposed to the infrared and risk, more than an adult after a few hours in the sun, eye irritation, stinging, conjunctivitis, or even, at the seaside or skiing, burns of the cornea (keratitis). In addition, his lens is almost transparent up to 12 years old and his pupil relatively wide. This is why 60 to 90% of UVA and 25 to 50% of UVB reach his retina. Certainly, the harms of this noxious bombardment are not immediate, but they have long-term repercussions. It is now believed that UVA exposure significantly increases the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). These rays would also advance by five to ten years the onset of cataracts (premature aging of the lens) occurring around fifty. Ultraviolet rays also attack the very thin and sensitive skin of the eyelids … Adequate protection can prevent your child from painful sunburn (and limit the risk of skin cancer).
Better to equip your child as soon as possible. Before 1 year, especially if you are staying in very sunny regions (south of France, Mediterranean countries, tropics, etc.) and in the event of strong reverberation such as at the beach or skiing. Some brands make models for toddlers such as Beaba, Tropique, Kids Classic… To make the right choice, consult our sunglasses test bench. Also, don’t hesitate to make him wear a hat and use a parasol.
Sunglasses: the criteria to be respected
Make sure the glasses are marked “CE”. It guarantees that they have received an anti-ultraviolet treatment (note: the 100% UV sticker has no value). The lenses must also be organic: CR39 or polycarbonate… Clearly, prefer unbreakable plastic and treated against scratches (the only material reimbursed to under 18s by the CNAM). Even transparent, these materials protect against harmful rays. The first filters 93% of UVA and 100% of UVB. The second, more recent, is even more effective. Latest novelty: sun lenses (simple or corrective) based on a pigment, melanin, are arriving on the market. Their plus: they absorb harmful blue light and could therefore protect against AMD. Also pay attention to the tint of the glasses. They must have a “category” label indicating their degree of coloring. The higher this degree – which goes from 0 to 4 -, the more the lenses limit glare (be careful, it’s a question of comfort, the color does not guarantee protection against UV rays!). In practice, opt for dark lenses – gray, green or brown… the important thing is that they do not affect vision. Category 3 is the most suitable in our latitudes for walks, at the beach, by the water or skiing.
Like the glasses, frames must be plastic (if possible without metal hinge). They resist shocks, are light and twist in all directions, without risk.
Note: today there are ultra-flexible hypoallergenic plastics for toddlers or even, which can be worn upside down or upside down so that they can put them back in place without any problem. In terms of shape, the glasses must be curved and enveloping to perfectly hide the eyes and not allow any UV to pass through. They must hold in place, if necessary by means of a fixed silicone nose, and not tighten at the temples. To prevent him from losing them, do not forget the headband without tightening it too much. And of course, they must appeal to your child!
Where to buy sunglasses and how much does it cost?
Better to buy your sunglasses at an optician. First, because there are reference marks there. Secondly, because there are few irregularities in the quality of the goods. According to the Directorate-General for Competition, breaches are relatively frequent in markets and in clothing stores (lack of CE marking, protection index, fanciful statements, non-compliant lenses). To find out if your optician is qualified, ask him about the materials, he must be able to answer you. Prices vary depending on the brand. Count around 20 to 45 € for a pair of non-corrective sunglasses. From 60 to 90 € for a tinted corrective pair.
Some addresses of opticians specializing in solar:
What if he has vision problems? In France, corrective lenses designed for children are made of polycarbonate, a plastic material that protects against UV rays, even when it is colorless. If your child wears his glasses in sunny weather, his eye tissue is therefore protected. But there you have it, the glare problem remains. Two solutions are available to you: you equip it in addition to its daily glasses, a pair equipped with tinted corrective lenses that you will only change every two years – unless its eyesight changes enormously. Or you invest in polychromic lenses (which darken in the light), if he suffers from hypersensitivity to visible rays, diagnosed by your ophthalmologist. |