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Schools

Why Children Should Wear Sunglasses

Le Tissier Sunscreen For Your Eyes Program

  • Adherence to Sunsmart
  • Short term – Comfort
  • Long term – Reducing the potential for cataracts, pterygium, macular degeneration and skin cancer of the eyelid.

Sunsmart recommend that to protect ourselves from the sun’s harsh UV radiation we should Slip, Slop, Slap and Wrap. However, the missing component for most children is the wrapping on of a pair of sunglasses.

The World Health Organisation state that the chronic effects of the sun’s UV radiation on eyes include cataracts, pterygium, squamous cell carcinoma and macular degeneration. However, we can prevent this damage.

Research shows that most people know that the sun’s UV rays cause skin cancer. However only seven per cent of people associate UV with eye problems. Hence the need for education amongst our children.

Sunglasses are Sunscreen for your Eyes

Actually, its more important that children wear sunglasses than adults. WHO estimates that up to 80% of a person’s lifetime UV exposure occurs before the age of 18. We need to protect our children.

Children are absorbing more UV light into their eyes than an adult because:

  • They typically spend more time outdoors than an adult.
  • The lens of a child is still developing and absorbs more UV light than an adult’s eye.

The sun protection measures that one takes during childhood are extremely critical. Wearing sunglasses during childhood will make a difference to a child’s eye health outcome.

As children spend so much of their daily outdoor time at school, especially at the times of the day when UV levels are at their peak, it is highly beneficial for children to be wearing sunglasses when they are outdoors at school just as they would a sunhat.

The World Health Organisation say that schools are a vitally important setting to promote sun protection and can play a significant role in increasing awareness and changing behaviour.

There are Short Term Benefits as Well:
  • Prevent squinting in the sun
  • Tiredness
  • Dry eyes
  • Headaches
  • Difficulty adjusting to the classroom light upon return

National research indicates 72% of New Zealand parents think schools should have sunglasses available as part of the uniform.

In October 2013 Takapuna Primary School lead the way and joined our Sunscreen For Your Eyes program and educated their students about the importance of wearing sunglasses. Since then, over 30 schools have joined us.

We would love your school to join the sunglasses revolution so that we can make a difference to the eye health outcome for the students.

You see mums and dads wearing sunglasses but their children won’t be. We thought let’s introduce sunglasses over the summer months and it’s taken off.”
Bruce Cunningham
Principal – Belmont Primary School

Our Vision

Our vision is that through our Sunscreen for Your Eyes education program it will become just as common to wear sunglasses when outdoors at school as it is to wear a sunhat.

Slip, Slop, Slap and WRAP!

Will your school join the sunglasses revolution? Call us today to learn more.

Want to know what the Le Tissier Education Program can do for your School?

We would love you to be part of the Le Tissier Sunscreen for Your Eyes program. In October 2013 Takapuna Primary School lead the way and made Le Tissier sunglasses an optional but highly recommended part of the school uniform.

We now have many schools who have recognised the importance of wearing sunglasses and have joined us in our efforts to educate and encourage children to make the wearing of sunglasses a life-long habit starting from childhood by also taking part in our educational program and by making Le Tissier sunglasses an optional part of the school life.

Please contact us to find out more via support@letissier.co.nz

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