health care professionals were not as aware of the long-term dangers of uv exposure many years ago. i know that when i was growing up in the 60s and 70s there was no emphasis on uv protection for skin or eyes. experts now feel that childhood is indeed the critical time to protect the eyes from uv exposure. there are several reasons for this. first kids spend more time outdoors than adults; this is likely true even in this day of video games and cable tv. second children’s pupils are larger as a percentage than those of adults. it is estimated that 50% of one’s lifetime exposure to uv light occurs by age 18.
do kids need sunglasses? i did not wear them when i was a child and my eyes are fine.