Children spend a lot of time outside enjoying going to the pool, taking part in sports or just outdoor playtime. Likely, they are outside with sunscreen to protect their skin. But a question that sparks a lot of interest from parent centers around eye protection and sunglasses.

Mayo Clinic Health System providers say children receive more annual sun exposure than adults. This increased exposure to sunlight increases risk of eye damage from ultraviolet (UV) light — an invisible electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun. Unlike adult eyes, children’s eyes are still maturing and cannot filter out the harmful UV rays as effectively.

“Children’s eyelids and skin around the eye are delicate and more vulnerable than adult skin,” says Nitika Arora, M.B.B.S., Mayo Clinic Health System glaucoma specialist in ophthalmology in La Crosse. “Damage from UV rays builds up over time. Long-term eye problems not specific to children could include cataracts and age-related macular degeneration that can blur vision, dull colors and lead to the development of a pterygium, which is a noncancerous growth of tissue on the surface of the eye.”

There also are some short-term physical side effects from too much UV light, including photokeratitis, also known as “snow blindness.” This occurs when UV rays reflect off sand, water, ice, and snow, or if you stare at the sun. Photokeratitis is like having a sunburned eye.

Fortunately, sunglasses will protect the skin around the eye and the eye itself. Consider having your children wear sunglasses every day. UV rays can still damage eyes on cloudy days.

Sunglasses should conform to the American National Standards Institute’s guideline ANSI Z80.3, which specifies UV protection and impact protection. “Choose sunglasses that block 99%-100% of both UVA (long-length) and UVB (short- length) rays,” says Angela Schneider, optician at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse.