Today many well-meaning mums and dads are also selling baby and children’s sunglasses. They normally fall in love with the cuteness of the product. Unfortunately they have either very little or absolutely no optical knowledge. They certainly do make fatal mistakes in their frame designs and lens quality. Subsequently if your children wear these dangerous kids sunglasses. They will end up with serious eye damage leading to blindness. This blog certainly will help you to save the sight of your kids. By pointing out what to look for in dangerous kids sunglasses.
Questions and Answers about dangerous kids sunglasses.
Why you should never buy “toy sunglasses”? 👎
Toy sunglasses are not covered by any sunglasses standards.
So, toy sunglasses do not have to comply. Furthermore these toys do not require any UV protection. Also the lens material used in these toy sunglasses is soft and distorted. Subsequently these lenses do scratch easily. Thereby causing blurry vision. And scratched lenses also cause the eye muscle (ciliary muscle). To constantly work to correct the distortion or scratch. Of course this blurred vision caused by the scratched lens is impossible to fix. And this constant over use of the ciliary muscle. Certainly does lead to the early wearing of prescription glasses.
Why you should avoid dangerous kids sunglasses with polarized lenses? 😢🕶️
Many children’s sunglasses brands try to improve their image by using polarized lenses. But to keep the price down they resort to using really bad TAC acetate film. These cheap, soft polarized lenses certainly do scratch really easy. As well these thin lenses do distort the polarized film. Consequently many customers report that these lenses cause them headaches and eye fatigue. Also due to the distortion and low quality polarized sheet material used. These lenses only cut as little as 30% of the reflected glare. Worse still the distortion from these lenses leads to major non-reversible eye damage. There after requiring prescription glasses to see.
To find out more please read our blog: Polarized Lenses the good and the bad.
Warning about dangerous European kids sunglasses.
Why you should avoid dangerous kids sunglasses with CAT 4 lenses without side shields? 👎🕶️
Due to a fatal error within the European EN ISO 12312-1:2013+A1:2015 sunglasses standard, some CAT 4 sunglasses without side shields will cause major eye problems. And yes, they certainly will lead to blindness.
In the EN standard section 11.2 it specifies the Temporal Protective Requirements. Or side shields for cat # 4 very dark special purpose sunglasses. Adult’s sunglasses that include cat # 4 lenses. Do have the side shields sizes and positioning specified. But children’s sunglasses that include cat # 4 lenses. For some unknown reason have been neglected. Having no side shields sizes and positioning included. Only adding the following note. “Note. Children benefit from sunglasses with temporal protection. But in the absence of data, no dimensions are published in this edition of the standard.”
Some European brands have also misinterpreted this note. Thinking it means. Children’s sunglasses with cat # 4 lenses do not need temporal or side shields. This is totally incorrect. So it should have stated. That “in the absence of data, scale the dimensions to suit“. But in truth the data should have been included. Thereby making it clearly understood. That children’s sunglasses with cat # 4 lenses do indeed require temporal protection.
Darker lenses does not mean better quality.
Many European brands also promote the myth. That the higher the category number or (CAT #) the better the quality. This is indeed false. The category number or (CAT #) is only meant to indicate the intended use for that lens shade. Category numbers or (CAT #) are as follows in the chart:
| Filter category | Description of filter category |
| 0 | Fashion spectacles; not sunglasses; very low sun-glare reduction; some UV protection; clear or very light tint |
| 1 | Fashion spectacles; not sunglasses; limited sun-glare reduction; some UV protection; light tint |
| 2 | Sunglasses; medium sun-glare reduction; good UV protection; medium tint |
| 3 | Sunglasses; high sun-glare reduction; good UV protection; dark tint |
| 4 | Sunglasses; special purpose; very high sun-glare reduction; good UV protection; must not be used when driving; very dark tint |
Cat # 0 and 1 are not sunglasses, as you can see from the chart. Therefore they should never be purchased for your children. As these lenses have no sun-glare protection and only limited UV protection.
Cat # 2 lenses should be avoided. As the lenses are still to light to give good sun-glare protection and only limited UV protection.
Cat # 3 lenses for everyday use. This is our recommendation.
What to look for in dangerous kids sunglasses.
Cat # 4 lenses are for special purpose use only. The intended uses of these lenses are for skiing or also mountaineering. Or where there are excessive amounts of sun-glare. That require very dark tinted lenses. Also these sunglasses do need compulsory side shields.
These lenses are really dark and only allow between 3% and 8% of light to pass. This causes the pupil to dilate (open). And if these sunglasses do not have any side shields. Then the UV radiation enters into a wide open eye causing blindness. Furthermore if your toddler wears these very dark lenses for normal everyday use. They will be unable to see clearly.
This photo is of a child wearing a European brand of sunglasses with cat # 4 lenses and no side shields. You can clearly see just how narrow the temples or arms are. Therefore offering limited side protection from UV rays entering a wide open eye. This model can also be warn upside down. Subsequently his leaves a large gap above the bridge or nose. Therefore allowing UV rays to enter a wide open eye.
Please protect your child’s eyes from dangerous kids sunglasses.
If your child or children do have a pair of these extremely dangerous kids sunglasses. With cat # 4 lenses and also no side shields. Please stop using them. They will only cause major eye problems that will lead to blindness. And never use them on the snow fields or your child will suffer from snow blindness.
Why you should avoid both the EN and USA standards in regard to dangerous kids sunglasses and UV protection? 👎🇪🇺👎🇺🇸
Both the EU and USA sunglasses standards. Incorrectly classify UV radiation from 100Nm to 380Nm. The correct UV range is 100Nm to 400Nm. Therefore UV rays between 380nm to 400nm is missing. This missing 20nm actually accounts for 40% of the total UVA radiation. So, when they claim 100% UV protection that simply is not true.
Why these are so dangerous.
Why is this such a big problem for young kids? Because when the eye is in the dark, like behind a sunglasses lens the pupil will dilate (open). Allowing UV to enter a wide open eye. And as young kids eyes don’t filter UV as well as an adult’s eye. The UV radiation can pass all the way to the retina causing problems. Consequently for babies and kids. Both of these standards are just not good enough.
Some European and USA brands have seen this problem of the missing 20nm of UV rays. And then claim their lenses are UV400 or 100% UVA or 100% UVA and B. None of this type of labeling is mentioned in any sunglasses standards so the claims are not checked. And my concerns are:
- If the lenses are UV400. At what level of UV do these lenses start cutting UV light?
- And if the lenses are 100% UVA. What about UVB?
Remember babies need total UV protection. As they have no chromophores in the eyes that protectively absorbs harmful UV rays. So whenever possible only buy Australian standard sunglasses with 100% UV protection. Always avoid both the EU and USA sunglasses for all children under 10 years old.
The Myths about dangerous kids sunglasses.
Myths about sunglasses. – As seen on many websites by those with no experience in optics.
- All sunglasses will protect eyes. No, totally false. Some will actually harm eyes and lead to blindness.
- All sunglasses must pass compulsory world sunglasses standards. True. But all the sunglasses standards are self regulated. And to save money a staggering 90% of cheap brands are never tested before going to market. Our testing shows a large proportion of these sunglasses do not comply. The authorities who do random in store checks. Don’t even have the necessary testing equipment. So they can only check if the correct labeling is applied. Unfortunately having the correct label does not always mean the sunglasses are safe.
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Buy quality kids sunglasses at our online shop 🛍️🕶️
If you are ready to buy the best baby or kids sunglasses that will truly save sight. Without a ridiculously high price, then take a look at our online shop.
Don’t miss the latest sunglasses “WARNINGS” on this page. They will save your child’s eyesight.
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