Children may not be as interested as adults are in the fashion aspect of sunglasses. But because kids spend much more time outdoors than most adults do, sunglasses that block 100 percent of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays are extra important for children.

In fact, because children spend significantly more time outdoors than most adults, some experts say that up to half of a person’s lifetime exposure to UV radiation can occur by age 18. (Other research cited by The Skin Cancer Foundation suggests the amount of lifetime exposure to UV radiation sustained by age 18 is less than 25 percent.)

And since excessive lifetime exposure to UV radiation has been linked to the development of  cataracts and other eye problems, it’s never too early for kids to begin wearing good quality sunglasses outdoors.

Photo by Juan Salamanca: https://www.pexels.com/photo/2-girl-s-swimming-during-daytime-61129/