The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that children should wear sunglasses year-round to protect their vulnerable eyes from the sun’s powerful UV rays in both winter and summer, reports Top Santé.
UV rays are even more dangerous during the winter. The sun sits at a different angle, lower in the sky, and the reflective quality of snow magnifies the brightness. UV rays are at their strongest in the early afternoon and at higher altitudes, and the academy recommends that even toddlers wear sunglasses.
Children’s eyes are more sensitive than adults because they haven’t finished growing, and irreversible sun damage can appear by the time the child is 10 years old. According to the American Association of Pediatrics, 90 per cent of sun damage to the eyes occurs before the age of 18.
Whether kids are outside skiing, skating, sledding, or just hanging around the yard building a snowman, sunglasses are an important part of dressing properly for the winter season.