The sun emits many types of rays including visible light, infrared radiation; and ultraviolet radiation that is often called "sunburn" ray. Mounting scientific evidence shows that exposure to UV rays can cause damage to children's eyes. 

Prevent Blindness America recommends that children protect their eyes from the sun's harmful rays. Sunglasses with UV protection can help boost the eyes' ability to filter out the damaging rays. But if the sunwear doesn't block UV rays, it may actually be more harmful to wear the sunglasses.

Sunglasses without UV protection shade the eyes from the bright sun, but cause the pupils to dilate, actually allowing in more harmful rays. The following guidelines may help you select sunglasses that are safe and appropriate for your child:

• Shop for sunglasses that block both types of ultraviolet rays: UV-A and UV-B

• Look at the lenses carefully for scratches and distortions. For non-prescription lenses, try to hold the glasses away from your eyes and look at a good horizontal or vertical line, such as a window frame. If the line appears wavy, the glasses may actually make it more difficult to see (although some distortion may be seen with prescription lenses for corrective purposes).

• Check the sunglasses periodically to make sure they fit well and are not damaged.

• Select sunglasses that suit children's active lifestyles like ones with impact resistant glasses and bendable frames.

• Children's sunglasses should never be made of glass unless required by their doctor. Polycarbonate lenses are the best choice for active children.

• The lenses should be large enough to shield the eyes from most angles. The sunglasses should also fit against the bridge of the child's nose to reduce the amount of sunlight that enters the eyes.

• Choose a wide-brimmed hat for your child to maximize protection.