If adults need special protection from overexposure to UV radiation – shouldn't it follow that children perhaps need it even more? Yet, many eye experts lament the fact that parents are not as proactive about making their children wear sunglasses. It's possible though that many parents are simply not aware of the important benefits of eye protection for their children.
Having said that, the factors involved in choosing appropriate sunglasses for children are essentially the same as they are for adults. Here is a quick guide for choosing sunglasses for little ones:
- First things first, it's necessary to ensure that sunglasses for your children have the proper UV protection – meaning 100% UV protection, or UV 400, which means the lens will give their eyes protection from the full spectrum of UV rays. Next to this, all other factors are secondary. In other words, if the pair of kids sunglasses you want to buy does not guarantee you UV400 protection, put it down. All of Olympic Eyewear's kids wholesale sunglasses are fitted with standard UV400 lens.
- Style is second on the list, seeing that children, especially around certain age periods, are rather fashion conscious! Older children won't want to wear anything they think their friends are going to laugh at – and younger children are notoriously picky for any given set of reasons. If possible, include children when it comes to choosing styles, and if not, then definitely consider their tastes, and make your choice accordingly. Adult styles are very popular among children – Olympic Eyewear has a large selection of kids sunglasses featuring classic and popular adult styles from brands like DG Sunglasses, X-Loop Sunglasses, and Locs Sunglasses.
- Third – you may want to consider lens tint and polarization. For young children the most important thing is UV protection – things like lens color are not so important. For older children who are more independent and who may be needing the shades for sports or some other outdoor activity, tints can enhance or minimize color perception, contrast and clarity, while polarized lens will help them to filter the glare in certain settings and activities.
- Lastly, think about fit and adjustment. Sunglasses should fit neatly on the child's face, not too loose, and not uncomfortably snug. For outdoor activities, the sunglasses should be somehow secured so they won't fall off the child's face during play.