Cover up them eyes! A chat with the Vision Council

Do you wear sunglasses? Big ones? Dark ones? Aviators? Just enough to cover your eyes? I am very proud to say that I’ve had the same pair of sunglasses for more than 2 years now. I know I got them at some conference, but I don’t remember which. I haven’t lost them or even scratched the lens… yet! This is a huge feat for me, considering I have a very curious 5 year old who wants what mommy has and is always playing with them. Isn’t it always like that? I’m sure you know the story behind kids and sunglasses. Does this scene look typical?

“Mommy! Look! I want these sunglasses, PLEEEAAASSSEEE! I promise I wont lose them!”

They are super careful with them for about…… a couple of hours and then? Gone. Kids are so awesome that way, aren’t they? Last week, I was able to chat with Optometrist,Dr. Dora Adamopoulos, and Chairman of the council, Jamie Shyer. The Vision Council is a nonprofit trade association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of the optical industry. Their member companies manufacture and/or distribute everything from eyeglass lenses and frames to sunglasses to eyeglass cases and accessories.

I learned so much in the hour that was spent with them. I thought I knew enough for us to protect our eyes like, don’t look at the sun, don’t sit too close to the TV and make sure you wear a hat outside. This truly isn’t enough to protect our eyes from UVA and UVB rays! Especially in little eyes….

I want to share with you what I learned during a chat with The Vision Council:

In a recent survey of 10,000 U.S. adults, 73 percent of parents wear sunglasses to protect their eyes from ultraviolet radiation, while only 58 percent have their children wear sunglasses. That means that nearly half of parents aren’t protecting their children’s eyes from harmful UV radiation.

Oh the guilt. I am part of this sad equation. But in my defense, (if I have one), I have tried and tried to get my kids to wear sunglasses when they’re out and about but unless I superglue them to their faces, it ain’t happening.

Children receive three times the annual sun exposure of adults, and they have an immature lens, which makes them especially susceptible to UV-related damage. UV exposure at any age can cause both short and long term vision problems – many of which can’t be reversed.

Freaking out, yet? This summer alone, we have been outside so much and after hearing how kids can get unreversable UV-related damage… freaked. me. out.

The Vision Council suggests taking the following “crucial considerations” into account when choosing a pair of sunglasses:

Comfort (so you’ll actually wear them)
Reliability (buy from a reputable retailer – not street vendors or popular auction sites)
Active Lifestyle (consider your daily activities in your choice of sunglasses)
Design and fit that works best for you/your children.

To determine if your sunglasses are reliable, look for a little sticker or tag on the lens that shows compliance with criteria set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The label “UV 380″ covers all UVA and UVB rays.
For the beach or pool friendly family, consider polarized lenses. They work exceptionally well at filtering out reflected glare from shiny surfaces like water and pavement. Polarized lenses also improve contrast and visibility so you don’t feel like you need to squint.

I love these tips. I hope you can use these tips when buying sunglasses (again) for the kids, hubby and even yourself. In exactly 1 week, my husband will undergo cataract surgery. When we first went to the Ophthalmologist, the doctor right away was questioning why my husband even had cataracts at such a young age. After the chat, I now know. My husband has worked outdoors for more than 6 years. Spending at least 6 hours walking outside. Without sunglasses.

How scary is that, Amigas? I strongly encourage you to join me and get our families to wear their sunglasses and for us as mom to make sure they are kept in a safe place. just don’t forget where the safe place is because then… well, we’re back to square 1. (:

The Vision Council’s website www.missingsunglasses.com is also full of useful information about sunglasses, lenses, tints and frames.

This is sponsored post with The Vision Council through The Motherhood. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About Liz Cerezo

Liz is a Mexican-American blogger living in Southern California. Married 14 years, and a mami to 3 kids, her content is inspired from living in and raising a multicultural familia. Liz has been blogging for more than 4 years, establishing herself as a nationally recognized Latina blogger. She often blogs in Spanglish and may throw in some Tagalog when talking about her hubby. You can also find her chit chatting away at @Liz_Cerezo.