The Kids Eye Gear kids always look forward to getting to the beach and into the pool. But we live in Queensland, Australia so with that comes - the sun! And plenty of it! 

Did you know that eyes can actually get sunburned too? Yep, it's true. 

Have you ever been out in the sun for a few hours and your eyes got bloodshot and sore? Well that's sunburn. And you probably had your sunglasses on. Imagine how a child's eyes can be affected considering most of them don't wear sunglasses. 

The thing is, it's actually even more important for kids to wear sunglasses because children generally receive 3 times the annual sun exposure of adults* and kids are more prone to damage because their ocular lenses cannot effectively filter out UV rays**.

But how do you pick a pair of sunglasses for kids? 

Well from a mother's point of view - whichever pair they'll actually keep on their heads is a good start! But after that, here are some tips. 

1. AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS

Make sure they adhere to the Australian Sunglasses Standard AS/NZS 1067:2016. You want sunglasses that are a minimum Category 3 - these offer high sunglare reduction and good UV protection. All sunglasses that comply with the Australian standard will provide the protection you need, regardless of the cost. 

2. POLARISED (if you can)

If you can get them, polarised sunglasses are great. They don't offer any added benefit as far as UV protection goes, but they do cut out glare. Remember that sun can reflect off surfaces such as sand, concrete and especially water. 

3. DARKER LENS

A darker lens doesn't necessarily mean it will cut out more UV rays. In fact, even clear lenses can cut out UV rays! However, the darker the lens the higher the level of sunglare reduction provided.

4. FRAME COVERAGE

A larger frame will give more protection simply because it covers a greater surface area. Wraparounds are a great choice for cutting out rays and glare to the side of the eye area.

And remember, protecting our kids' eyes shouldn't just be for our kids with vision issues. All kids can benefit from the protection of sunglasses - after all, Australia does have one of the highest UV levels in the world!***

* Source : Prevent Blindness America, Children's Eyes More Susceptible to Long-term Damage from UV Rays, April 2010
** Source : The Vision Council, UV Protection Report, 2015
*** Source : SunSmart Victoria