Northampton parents warned over children's sunglasses
Research from The College of Optometrists reveals less than half of parents make their children wear sunglasses in the summer.
Last updated 12th Jul 2025
A Northampton optometrist is warning parents to ensure their kids wear sunglasses amid an increased risk of damaged eyesight.
It's after new research by the College of Optometrists reveals 30% of parents say their children regularly wear sunglasses in the summer months.
Keyur Patel from Tompkins Knight & Son Optometrists tells us children are more susceptible to UV-related eye damage:
"80% of your UV exposure will come to you as a child and I suspect that's mainly because you spend more time outdoors.
"Children's pupils also tend to be bigger. If you have any nephews or nieces, you know, have a look at their eyes and they've got these big, beautiful pupils. And then if you look at like your parents or your grandparents, their pupils are a little bit small.
"So you've got more of this high energy light going into the eye... and that high energy light is going to have long term implications."
The research also shows two thirds of parents are not aware that sunglasses can help ease hay fever symptoms.
"Children's pupils also tend to be bigger."
Keyur Patel says children's eye health in children can often be misunderstood, as seeing well and eye health aren't the same thing.
He'd like eye protection in the sun given the same importance as our skin protection for children:
"It is really important to get UV protection. People send their kids out and they don't send them out without sunscreen.
"We'll get a letter from our school saying tomorrow's going to be 28°. Please make sure your sons have sunscreen on, but no one's saying. You know what? Maybe we should have recommendation for sunglasses as well? Your eyes stay with you for the duration."
In the UK, around 30,000 new cases of eyelid skin cancer are diagnosed each year.
Eye experts are advising that just like sun cream and hats, sunglasses with UV protection should be part of our everyday protection through the summer months.
Keyur Patel says it's important to buy from reputable stores so you know the UV protection your child's eyes are getting, and says High Street Optometrists can help with that.
New data from The College of Optometrists highlights nearly 2 in 5 parents believe their child does not need sunglasses as they wear a hat or cap instead.
Whilst wearing a wide-brimmed hat or cap does offer some protection from harmful UV rays, combining wearing a hat with sunglasses can reduce UV radiation from reaching your eyes by up to 98%.
Experts are encouraging parents to take their child for regular eye tests every two years from the age of 3-4 years old, or as advised by their optometrist.