It's never too early to start protecting your eyes

Kid’s eyes need protection, too.  In fact, children are more at risk of the eye-damaging effects of UV exposure than adults. The eye of a child under the age of ten allows more than six times the amount of UV light to penetrate than an adult’s eye, so it’s never too early to start protecting a child’s eyes. Many parents find that it can be difficult to ensure that their child is wearing protective eyewear, especially in situations when they may not be present, like walking to or from school and during recess. Transitions lenses can help.  They block 100% of UV radiation and reduce glare.  And they’re available in the sturdy, lightweight, shatter and impact-resistant materials that are best for children. With an average of one in four children having an undetected vision problem that can interfere with the ability to read and learn, proper eyecare and eyewear are critical to performance inside the classroom and in your child’s everyday life. Regular eye exams are critical to your child’s healthcare and should be scheduled as regularly as doctor and dentist appointments.

Beyond Eye Screenings in School

Near vision is not tested in the simple eye screenings offered in schools—and near vision is especially important for reading books and seeing the computer screen clearly. Also, some of the most common children’s vision problems such as eye coordination, lazy eye, and farsightedness can be missed in an eye screening.

Children’s Eyes are More Sensitive

Children’s eyes are naturally more sensitive to environmental factors that can be damaging to their eyes:

• The average child receives three times the annual UV exposure than an adult.
• The lens of the eye of a child under age 10 allows more than six times the amount of UV radiation to penetrate than an adult’s eye.
• When you protect the skin around your eyes—and everywhere else—during the first 18 years of your life, the risk of cancer is likely to be reduced by 50%. This means that in addition to regular eye exams, you should make sure your children’s eyes and skin are protected from UV rays whenever they are outside—protect your children’s eyes from the sun with UV-blocking lenses, such as Transitions™ lenses, wide-brimmed hats covering the eyes, ears, face and neck, and sunscreen.

Healthy Sight Checklist

• Visit an eye doctor regularly for a complete eye exam
• Maintain a balanced diet high in beta-carotene and take vitamin supplements, if recommended
• Exercise regularly
• Drink eight to ten glasses of water a day to hydrate your body and eyes
• Make a conscious effort to periodically rest your eyes and blink frequently – especially when reading, working on a computer or watching television
• Avoid rubbing your eyes
• Wear sunscreen and UV-protective clothing, such as a wide-brimmed hat
• Select everyday eyewear, like Transitions™ lenses, that automatically block 100 percent of UV rays and help to reduce distracting glare

For more information about visual health, as well as games and activities for children, please visit www.EyeDidntKnowThat.ca. Here are the common benefits of all everyday Transitions™ glasses:

• All Transitions™ lenses help eyes adapt to changes in external light intensity better they could do themselves
• All Transitions™ lenses block 100% of UVA and UVB rays
• All Transitions™ lenses help reduce eye fatigue and stress
• Transitions™ lenses are designed to fit virtually every frame, style, size and prescription
• Transitions™ lenses are the most recommended photochromic lenses in the world
• Inside and outside, all day, every day - experience life well lit™

For more information about Transitions lenses, visit www.Transitions.com.