As we approach the holiday season I am amazed at how many parents, who also bring their kids into the practice with them, spend a huge amount of time (and cash) on sunspecs for their annual holiday, which is usually to a hot, sunny destination abroad, and subsequently leave the practice with new sunglasses for themselves but not for their kids.
Here is the conversation often heard in my practice:
‘Are the children going on holiday with you?’
‘Of course they are.’
‘What about some sunspecs for them?’
‘They don’t need them.’
Does this sound familiar?
I’m sure most parents have never considered that adequate sun protection for their child’s eyes is a must. They will be more than happy to slip on a shirt, slap on a hat and slop on factor 50 to their child, but what about their eyes?
I am of a certain vintage and remember when adequate sun protection was often difficult to find, especially in prescription lenses, but that is not the case today. We have an extensive range of sunglass lenses to choose from, both in plano and prescription. We can even fine tune the tint colour and coating to whatever we choose to do in the sun – whether it be play golf, ride a bike or simply lay by the pool with a book. And it’s the same for kids – many of our suppliers offer lots of kids models, in lightweight materials, which look great and most importantly protect young eyes.
In a World Health Organisation factsheet (WHO Factsheet 261) it states that it is estimated that 80 per cent of a person’s exposure to UV happens before the age of 18. So, if that isn’t food-for-thought, I don’t know what is.
Are you ready for summer?
Fiona Anderson, President, Abdo