Bright Ideas
Kids need sunwear just as much if not more than adults do. With protection as the key issue for parents and style as priority one for kids, you can present and sell more sunwear to younger folks
Karlen McLean, ABOC, NCLC
Polycarbonate and Trivex lens materials are no-brainers for kids. They're the most impact-resistant lens option, inherently UV and scratch-resistant, and thinner and lighter-weight than standard plastic.
Poly and Trivex lenses are the healthy choice for outdoor active wear and sunwear. Impact-resistant first, they come in all sunlens options, including polarized, photochromic, tinted, and AR. Melanin options provide protection from High Energy Visible (blue) light.
With all the options available, matching lens properties to young patient lifestyles is key on the dispensing front.
HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU
Basic knowledge of poly and Trivex lenses is the first step in savvy sunlens dispensing for kids. Check on product properties to make sure you're selling what's best. Poly and Trivex lenses should provide UV protection that blocks at least 99 percent of UVA and UVB rays, giving kids the best UV protection available. The lenses must also pass high-impact safety testing and meet or exceed ANSI and ISO safety standards.
Baby Banz eyewear protects little eyes. Image by Heather Walter
Playtime demands durable sunlenses. Image courtesy of Vision-Ease
If opting for tinted poly over photochromic or polarized poly lenses, the lenses must be tintable to sunlens density.
When tinting poly in-house, check with manufacturers for their poly tintability and recommended tinting procedures. Tint bath temperature should be set at 205° to 210°. Use clean dyes that are mixed with distilled water and stirred regularly.
Lenses should be pre-cleaned and thoroughly dried and should be from the same batch number to ensure uniform color absorption. Submerge lenses for 10-minute intervals until desired color is achieved.
| the state I'm in |
|---|
| Every part of the country has special concerns that merit mention of sunwear for kids. These regional tips will help you personalize a presentation for your area. Note that sunlens color and density, from brown to gray to other colors like copper and yellow, are contingent on the activity and environment faced most often. Northeast: All weather conditions abound including rain, sleet, fog, snow, ice, and bright sun. A multitude of buildings and paved roadways create glare. On the coast and inland, rivers, lakes, bays, and the ocean cause water-related glare. Outdoor activities like basketball in the city, soccer in suburban sports parks, hiking in the hills, and boating/fishing call for visual protection. Suggested kids sunlens solution: Polarized and/or photochromic poly or Trivex lenses with AR. Southeast: Hazy morning conditions coupled with afternoon thunderstorms can cause heat and weather-related reflective glare. Humidity calls for anti-fog treaded lenses and heat calls for mirrors, combined with frames that fit securely yet allow air circulation. Water and beach activities are affected by glare from water and sand. Be sure kids have cable temples or a sports strap to keep sunwear secure in and around the surf and during heated activities outdoors. Suggested kids sunlens solution: Polarized poly or Trivex lenses with mirror coating, AR, and anti-fogging properties. Midwest: Extremes from freezing snow to hot haze depending on the time of year, plus rain and freezing rain typify Midwest conditions. Boating on lakes and rivers, cycling, and skateboarding, plus snow-based activities like skiing and skating call for sunwear solutions to help combat glare while providing visual protection. Suggested kids sunlens solution: Polarized poly or Trivex with AR and optional mirror coating. Southwest: Hot and cold, the Southwest gets all types of weather. Besides protection from bright, glaring sun, Southwestern kids should protect their eyes from wind, sand, dust, and dry conditions. Sunwear with face-hugging frames work best. Suggested kids sunlens solution: Polarized poly or Trivex with mirror coating and optional AR. Northwest: Rain-created glare, fog, and haze, plus winter snow requires sunwear awareness. Even though it's cloudy, UV protection is still a primary concern. For outdoor active Northwestern kids, from hiking to kayaking to snowboarding, sunwear and frames tailored to their activities are necessary sporting equipment. Suggested kids sunlens solution: Polarized and/or Transitions poly or Trivex lenses with AR. |
Some manufacturers offer pre-tinted poly, which can take the guesswork, time factor, and failure rate out of tinting poly in-house.
Overall, Trivex is a better choice for tinting, since it can be tinted quickly and easily.
EVERYDAY SUN SAFETY
Most parents won't let their kids ride bicycles unless they are wearing a safety helmet for protection. When presenting poly and Trivex lens options for kids, equate eye safety with helmets.
Some everyday examples to use during the dispensing phase:
- Outdoor safety while bicycling, skateboarding, on the playground.
- Sun protection during family outings, hanging out with friends, or even crossing the street and riding in a car.
- In addition to protecting eyes from impact and UV, the right lenses and frames help protect against wind, dust, and debris. This can be especially important in dry areas and areas with aerial pollutants, as well as for allergy-prone kids.
Of note, poly is not as chemically resistant as Trivex. So if kids will be in situations where they may be exposing lenses to chemicals, Trivex is the better choice. Poly is also more susceptible to scratching than Trivex, but improved hardcoatings have improved poly's scratch performance.
| awesome options |
|---|
| Lens materials and treatments for kids can be confusing. To know what's best for youngsters, it helps to assess each choice. AR: Today's AR is more durable and easier to clean and keep clean than ARs of the past. That said, AR (and lenses) can still scratch. It can be hard to tell on a first-time fitting of a child whether eyewear will be taken care of or abused. But the benefits of AR for visual acuity and cosmetics may be worth trying. Ask lifestyle questions of kids and parents to help determine AR and eyewear care. In the end, it's a per-case judgment call whether to go with AR or not. Being able to offer a warranty for one-time, first-year lens replacement can help assure paying parents that you'll stand behind the product. High-index: HI lenses don't offer the established safety record of poly and Trivex lenses. Although it may be tempting to fit a high-minus kid in HI, it's safer for the child and your practice to fit impact-resistant materials that meet ANSI and ISO impact standards. Both poly and Trivex are lightweight and thinner options than standard plastic, and above all, the safest choice. Photochromic: Photochromic lenses can offer indoor-outdoor performance in one pair of eyewear, so parents may opt for this perceived cost-cutting option. However, for kids who are active outdoors, photochromic lenses may not offer enough performance in sunny situations. Giving a discount on a second pair of eyewear for the sun will help motivate the right choices. Polarized: Polarized lenses with proven anti-glare properties are great sunwear performers, especially in safety-proven poly and Trivex. ECPs should mention upfront that polarized lenses may make it somewhat challenging to view LCD displays, such as those on cell phones and hand-held games, and that this is a normal part of polarized wear that actually proves that the polarization is working. Rimless: Rimless are typically not recommended for kids due to their perceived delicacy as compared to a full-metal or plastic frame. However, when reviewing lifestyle on a case-by-case basis, it can be determined if kids are rimless candidates or not. Trivex in particular is a rimless-compatible material that edges and drills well. Today's rimless frames offer tougher features, such as thicker construction, memory metal, spring hinges, and more stable mounting hardware. Combine rimless with poly or Trivex, back it up with a one-time, first-year warranty, and kids can get rimless if they like. And they are more likely to wear what they like. UV protection & scratch-resistance: Poly and Trivex are inherently UV protective and scratch resistant, great features to bring up in the lens discussion. |
SPORTS SUN SAFETY
It's essential that kids involved in high-contact sports have the best protection for their eyes. This includes sports-specific, wrap-style frames for outdoor sports with poly or Trivex sunlenses.
Sports safety includes lenses. Images from Transitions (top) and An Optical Galleria
Quality sunlens treatments such as AR can also benefit sports performance by enhancing visual acuity. In addition, anti-fog treatment can keep lenses clear.
Durability is a primary concern with heavy sports use. Quality poly and Trivex lenses are impact-resistant and scratch-resistant. But that doesn't mean they'll never break or scratch, so it's important to address this upfront with parents and kids.
Make sure they understand the wear-and-tear factor and how to care for their frames and lenses by cleaning with approved cleaner and a soft cloth. EB
![]({"src":"/media/moldkqbj/62007.jpg","focalPoint":null,"crops":[{"alias":"thumbnail","width":1110,"height":700,"coordinates":null}]})