LENS TIPS
Bright Ideas
by Karlen McLean, ABOC, NCLC

Photochromics provide a good choice for kids for indoor and outdoor wear

Face it, kids get their first pair of glasses because they need to see better and not for any other reason. Their ability to excel in school, do their homework, play video games, ride their bicycles, or participate in sports...all of their everyday activities are ruled by how well they see with their eyewear.  

But good vision, while primary, isn't the only reason for eyewear. Visual protection, the ability to shield eyes from danger, is also a major factor.  

Visual protection should be imparted early and strongly to parents and kids as the "other reason" to get and maintain proper eyewear.

Prescription and plano sunwear fulfills the protection mission by guarding young eyes from harmful UV rays, foreign objects, and harmful impact when kids are at their most active outside.

EVERYDAY SAFETY

Bicycling, skateboarding, playing ball, and just hanging out—these are kids' everyday activities. Kids also walk to and from school or get in and out of cars or buses. They walk across streets, romp on the playground, and take part in other outdoor school activities. Every day kids are exposed to UV rays, wind, dust, and debris, and climate elements like bright sun, rain, sleet, and snow, which can cause glare.

PLAYING THE FIELD

Any outdoor sports activity calls for sports sunwear. Consider conditions on sports fields including wind, dust, and debris.

Proper, UV-blocking sunwear is an important part of children's outdoor safety gear. Shown here: Ray-Ban Junior style RB9026S from Luxottica

Also consider reflective surfaces such as outdoor basketball courts, swimming pools, sandy beaches, golf courses, and nearby buildings when explaining sunlens and sports frame selections for children to youngsters and their parents.

YOUNG WORKERS

Teens driving to and from work need sunlens protection from reflective glare, and an appropriate driving tint for the best visual performance.

Considering the job type, they also may need safety sunwear for complete visual protection. Be ready to discuss how sunwear is beneficial for after school activities such as 4-H, lifeguarding, mowing lawns, shoveling snow, and other teen club and after school jobs.

FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS

Consider photochromic lenses for indoor-to-outdoor wear and polarized lenses for glare. Recommend impact-resistant polycarbonate or Trivex lens material for safety.

Frames should be small enough to fit precisely, including temple length. Nosepads can be adjusted to fit a
variety of small bridges, and face form and pantoscopic tilt should be adjusted before measuring lenses. Finally, always take monocular PDs with a pupilometer.