Children's Health / 17 July, 2025 / My Baba

Protect Your Children’s Eyes From UV Damage: Top Tips On Choosing Children’s Sunglasses

Summer is the perfect time for children to enjoy the outdoors, but it’s also when their eyes need extra care. In this article, Daniel Hardiman-McCartney, clinical adviser at The College of Optometrists, shares expert advice and top tips for buying children’s sunglasses and why protecting young eyes from harmful UV rays with sunglasses is essential for lifelong eye health. From fit and comfort to UV protection, here’s what every parent should know.

Protecting children’s sensitive skin has become second nature, thanks to widespread awareness of UV damage. But the sun’s UV rays can also cause potential damage to children’s eyes without proper protection in the summer months, too.

Our recent poll of over 1,000 parents from across the UK found that more than half of parents don’t ensure their children wear sunglasses with UV protection when spending time outside in the sun. Four in ten parents (38%) believe their child doesn’t need sunglasses as they ensure they wear a hat or cap on sunny days instead.

While a hat does provide some protection from sun damage, particularly a wide-brimmed hat, it’s not the same level of safety as wearing a pair of sunglasses with certified UV protection. Research in Australia even found that by wearing a hat and sunglasses can reduce UV radiation from reaching your eyes by up to 98%.

Top tips for buying children’s sunglasses

When shopping for children’s sunglasses, it’s important to look for the CE or UKCA mark, which ensures they meet British standards for UV protection. Ensure you only buy sunglasses from reputable sources, as a recent investigation by Which? Magazine found that some online reseller websites were selling counterfeit sunglasses without the required level of UV protection, despite displaying the CE mark. This can also be a problem with market stalls at festivals or whilst on holiday, so for peace of mind, stick to trusted, reputable suppliers. We advise parents to buy sunglasses in person so they can check they have that all-important CE or UKCA mark on the sunglasses. This is usually found on the arm or frame of the sunglasses or included in the labelling.

Not only can good quality sunglasses help protect children’s eyes against UV damage, but they can also help prevent glare in strong sunlight, protect the eyes from wind and debris, and wraparound styles of sunglasses can also reduce hay fever symptoms.

I recommend visiting your local optician for help with choosing a pair of sunglasses that best fit your child snugly and comfortably. This will help make sure they stay on while they’re running around outside having fun in the summer months. They’ll also be able to advise you on finding the best sunglasses for your needs. It’s also important to note that darker lenses don’t mean better UV protection, so always check for the British standards mark.

Looking after children’s sunglasses lenses

Children’s sunglasses can quickly become smudged after a day playing outside, and sticky fingers can leave marks on the lenses after eating lollies and ice creams. But a few tricks can help keep their sunglasses in tip-top shape.

Before or after use each day, give them a quick clean by washing them with lukewarm water and a tiny drop of hand soap (without moisturisers) to remove dust and grit. Rinse them well, shake off the water, and dry them with a clean microfibre cloth. Ideally, pop them in a sunglasses case to keep them from getting damaged or dirty when they’re not being worn.

Why it’s so important to protect sensitive young eyes

Children’s eyes are more susceptible to UV-related damage because they spend more time outside and have larger pupils and clearer lenses, which allow more UV radiation to reach their retinas. Long-term exposure to even small amounts of UV radiation has been linked to an increased risk of developing serious eye conditions, such as the earlier onset of cataract or macular degeneration, in later life.

Skin cancer can also develop on the eyelids, and around 700 new cases of eyelid skin cancer are diagnosed in the UK each year. These types of cancer are usually slow-growing and treatable when caught early. Wearing sunglasses with UV protection can help reduce your and your children’s risk by shielding the delicate skin around the eyes from harmful sun exposure.

It’s also important to wear sunglasses whenever the UV index is moderate or above, so check the weather forecast for the UV rating, as UV can still cause damage on cloudier days.

Look after your children’s eye health year-round

The summer holidays can also be an ideal time to book an appointment at your local optometrist for an eye test to check that your child’s eyes and vision are healthy. It is helpful to try and book this in at the start of the summer holidays, so if glasses are needed, there is plenty of time for them to be ordered before the new term begins. If your child needs glasses, remember to ask your optician about prescription sunglasses too.

It’s ideal to take children for a regular eye test every two years from the age of 3-4 years old, or as advised by your optometrist. This will ensure that any childhood eye and vision issues are detected and treated early, preventing potential problems later in life.

Article by Daniel Hardiman-McCartney MBE FCOptom, clinical adviser at The College of Optometrists.

About The College of Optometrists

The College of Optometrists is the professional body for optometrists. For more advice about eye health and to find out a local optometrist, visit www.lookafteryoureyes.org.

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