The American Academy of Ophthalmology reported that 80% of America suffers from photophobia. It is estimated that approximately 9 million children in the U.S. suffer from light sensitivity. Photophobia refers to discomfort or pain in the eyes due to exposure to light, including both sunlight and indoor light. Some symptoms of photophobia are: pain in the eyes, particularly if red or swollen; persistent touching of the eyes due to itchiness; complaints of blurred vision, headaches, or neck stiffness; excessive squinting, especially in bright conditions; dizziness or nausea.
Spending time outdoors is an integral part of a child’s health. It has many benefits such as preventing or slowing down the progression of myopia or amblyopia in children. Parents understand the importance of outdoor activity in helping improve their chidrens’ eye health. However, for photophobic children, it is understandable that they would not want to spend much time outdoors. This poses a constant battle between the child’s discomfort versus the necessity for children to spend time outdoors.
（Children who suffer from photophobia squint their eyes under sunlight because they feel uncomfortable.）
Reason of photophobia 1. Children who suffer from eye diseases such as amblyopia, macular degeneration or cataract, their eyes cannot receive strong light.
（Children with cataracts are sensitive to light and must wear sunglasses to protect their eyes.）
2 . According to Dr. Charles Slonim (Ophthalmologist in Tampa, Florida), people with a lighter eye color also may experience more light sensitivity in environments such as bright sunlight, because darker-colored eyes contain more pigment to protect against harsh lighting.
(Children with a lighter eye color experience more light sensitivity)
3. Children use electronic products or watch TV all day long, causing dry eyes and visual fatigue, resulting in photophobia.
（Children's exposure to too many electronic products can cause eye fatigue, dry eyes, etc.）
4. When a child suddenly goes from a dark environment to a very bright environment, the eyes will be stimulated by light, which will make them feel photophobic.
How to avoid photophobia
Try to avoid rubbing eyes and arrange for an optical examination as soon as possible.
For some congenital eye diseases, you can only use shading methods such as wearing UV-resistant sunglasses to improve the symptoms of photophobia.
Wear polarized sunglasses with 100% UV protection, which can effectively block the glare from water, snow and road reflections.
（Wearing sunglasses that meet the standard can effectively achieve the effect of shading.）
4. Develop good eye habits and reduce the use of electronic products.
Choosing quality sunglasses
Experts say that children's vision development has special physiological characteristics, and their vision development needs regular light stimulation, otherwise the child is likely to have amblyopia. However, excessive ultraviolet radiation may cause early cataracts. Every child needs enough time outdoors but also needs the appropriate sunglasses to protect their eyes, especially children who are photophobic.
Children are at the stage where their vision is still developing. Sunglasses that do not provide adequate protection can affect eye development and even cause amblyopia. Children have higher requirements on the quality and protection needed from sunglasses than adults.
（Children’s delicate eyes need the protection of sunglasses）
If you are looking for sunglasses suitable for young children wearing spectacles, learn more about Eyelet SunPlus @ https://www.eyeletasia.com/sunplus
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