Perspectives
Take a tip from down under

Americans can be obsessive about protecting their kids from that ubiquitous term, "trouble." Parents admit they over-program schedules so their children don't have time to get into--here's that word again--trouble. And many parents drive the kids to school so they won't mix with youngsters on the bus who, yes, like to cause trouble.

Say what you may about such parental practices, but my real point is that we work so hard to protect children from uncertain danger, yet we do very little to protect them--and their health--from certain dangers like ultraviolet light.

We're an educated society. We know the increasing incidence of skin cancer and the potential danger to vision from over-exposure to UV. But, besides buying an over-priced tube of SPF 15 sun screen, few parents give it a second thought.

At International Vision Expo East, I chatted with a couple of sunglass suppliers who focus on the very young--Baby Banz and Ice Cream Shades--and both pointed out how backwards we are when it comes to protecting our children's eyes. Both also mentioned Australia, a country that reportedly has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world, and one that has also done the most to protect young eyes.

Australia's sunglass standards are stringent. Like parents, young children wear broad hats. Perambulators sport UV screens. And since passage of the Australian/New Zealand Standard for Sun Protective Clothing in 1996, clothing carries "UPF" ratings based on a combination of an item's weave, material, and color.

Displaying sunwear and sunglass-friendly frames for even the very young is a service all dispensers should offer. It's also smart business. Why? As discussed in the Younger Optics-sponsored guide to selling sunwear in this issue, carrying children's sunwear really sets your business apart because it's a category most sunglass-only shops haven't gone after.

The good news is that lots of suppliers are beginning to provide product for the young and very young, so be sure to ask your reps what's available.

Sincerely,

Stephanie K. De Long
Editor-in-Chief