Sunglasses for Kids

Children may not be as interested as adults are in the fashion aspect of sunglasses. But because kids spend much more time than most adults do outdoors and in direct sunlight, UV protection for the eyes is extra important.

In fact, many experts believe our eyes get 80 percent of their total lifetime exposure to the sun's UV rays by age 18. And since excessive lifetime exposure to UV radiation has been linked to the development of cataracts and other eye problems, it's never too early for kids to begin wearing good quality sunglasses outdoors.

As long as the lenses are clearly marked as capable of providing 100 percent UV protection, your children can pick any lens color and shade they like. [For more information, see what you need to know about ultraviolet rays.]

The colorful, adolescent styles are still available, but sunglass companies have found a niche in appealing to children's desire to look like their parents or older siblings.

This eyeglass frame comes with a clip-on sun lens (Lacoste Lunettes Junior).

Oval, round, rectangular, cat-eye and geometric shapes are all popular in cool, sophisticated colors like green, blue, tortoise and black. Metal frames are very popular, but so are plastic sunglass frames that look like scaled-down versions of trendy adult styles. Also, sporty styles for kids like wraparounds are available in miniature adult editions.

The best places to find kids' sunglasses are sunglass specialty stores like Sunglass Hut, optical chain stores like Pearle Vision and LensCrafters, and your local optician or optical shop.

Some opticians even specialize in children's sunglasses and eyeglasses and have dedicated areas just for kids to play and shop for their frames.

Wherever you go, look for a good selection of sunglass frames scaled specifically for a child's facial dimensions and a professional staff experienced in fitting children's eyewear.

During the selection and fitting of your child's sunglasses, the optician should explain the benefits of the sunglasses and how to care for them. Often, the optician will include or recommend cleaning cloths, solutions and a protective, hard-shell case to store the sunglasses in when they are not worn.

Sunglass cords (commonly called "retainers") are also a good idea. These can be attached to the temples of the sunglasses so that when removed (or knocked off), the sunglasses can hang from the neck and not get misplaced.

One important factor to remember is that sunglass lenses are impact resistant (as required by the FDA) but they are not shatterproof. Many parents prefer polycarbonate lenses for their children's eyewear and sunwear since they are strong, durable and impact-resistant.

Special frame materials and styles designed for rough activities are available as well for kids' sports eyewear and sunglasses.
 

1. Styling that mimics that of adult sunglasses — cool, sophisticated and trendy.
    
2. Modern plastic styles in rich colors (no more bubble-gum colors).
    
3. Sports eyewear in scaled-down versions of adult styles.
    
4. Clip-on sunglasses for children's prescription eyeglasses. Clip-ons are readily available and reasonably priced. Instead of attaching with metal clips (which can scratch eyeglass lenses), you can now also buy sunglass clip-ons that are magnetically attached.
    
5. Brand name appeal. Kids are becoming nearly as brand-conscious as their parents and older siblings. Major eyewear manufacturers have teamed up with Disney, popular cartoons and young celebrities to create eyewear and sunglasses made for and appealing specifically to children.