Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Are you neglecting your childrens vision?

Are you as diligent about having your kids wear sunglasses as you are about sunscreen?  I bet not.  I know I haven't been and feel awful about it.

In a recent study, it was found that 73% of parents wear sunglasses on a consistent basis, but only about 58% have their children wear sunglasses.  I've sadly been in that slacker parent category.  Sure we have sunglasses for the kids, but I just hadn't been diligent about having the kids wear them.  It feels like the kids have grown up virtually overnight and I missed that stage where you need to transition them in to wearing sunglasses.  We can't be perfect parents, right?

Well, thankfully it isn't too late and certainly not an expensive fix.  I headed down to our local sports store and had the boys each pick out a cool new pair of sunglasses.  I used my veto powers (you know that magical I hold all the cards - charge cards that is power), to ensure that both the boys picked out sunglasses with 100% UV protection and polarized lenses.  Polarized lenses are by far the best to protect your eyes, although 100% UV is far better than no sunglasses!

I was absolutely thrilled at the selection of cool sunglasses, great prices (both boys picked ones that were $12.99).  They look like grown up sunglasses and aren't the character ones (we've really been working on getting past the character stages).  I had both of them test out the sunglasses, look in the mirror and got their approval as well as mine.  We were done in about 5 minutes and everyone is thrilled!  Honestly I was worried going out to look for sunglasses, worried that good ones would cost a fortune (like they do for adults many times), but was pleasantly surprised to find great ones at great prices at a reputable store.  Buying sunglasses at a reputable store is so important because many times when you buy them off a street vendor, they may say they have 100% UV protection, but they actually don't because they aren't accountable to anyone.

First comment coming out of the store in his new glasses, my older one commented that the world just looks more 3-D with his polarized lenses.

So why the sudden interest in vision care?  I recently had the chance to sit in on discussion on vision care.  I learned so many valuable things about how an ounce of prevention can prevent so many vision issues down the line.   What got to me the most is that even small amounts of unprotected exposure to the sun starts to quietly damage the young eyes and many times only shows up in adulthood.

I've personally taken my excellent vision for granted for so many years, but I've always been personally diligent about wearing sunglasses simply because the bright sun bothers my eyes.

You can find great information about sunglasses for kids and other valuable info here.

Are you good about having your kids wear sunglasses?  I'd love to hear either way!

Note:  This is part of a compensated campaign with the Motherhood, but all opinions are as always 100% my own.

10 comments:

Mike July 25, 2012 at 5:19 PM  

I'm taking the kids next week to their first optometry appointment. Thanks for the inspiration.

Unknown July 26, 2012 at 11:04 AM  

Great post Katie! We always get the kids new sunglasses every Summer (because they always lose them every Summer).

Shannon Bradley-Colleary July 26, 2012 at 11:31 AM  

There's something about kids in sunglasses that seems a bit Too Cool For School. But of course they're practical. Now if my kids would just quite losing them!

Desiree Eaglin July 26, 2012 at 2:30 PM  

I got some aviator glasses for my son from Vons of all places. They are really awesome.

Yvonne Condes July 26, 2012 at 4:40 PM  

My boys don't like the sun in their eyes so I've bought them sunglasses before, but they lost or broke them. I think they need to be a little bit older. I love the sunglasses at A16.

Anonymous,  July 26, 2012 at 10:49 PM  

Oh man, my kiddo doesn't wear them, like, ever. Ack. Guess I should start putting them on him!

tania luviano July 27, 2012 at 8:18 AM  

Like you, my kids have sunglasses, for FUN! but from now on, I will make them wear them. Great advice.

Admin July 27, 2012 at 9:22 AM  

I am so guilty of this. Thank you for giving me a wake-up call.

Unknown July 27, 2012 at 5:14 PM  

My son is diligent about his sunglasses. He says the sun hurts his eyes so he always wears them. Although now I'm thinking that it would be a good idea to take him to the optometrist.

Aracely July 28, 2012 at 9:25 AM  

Great post! You inspired Mike to take the kiddos to the doctor! :)

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