For information, contact:
Melitta J. Cutright, Lions Clubs International
630-571-5466 ext. 363
Scott Treibitz (July 1-6)
703/276-2772 ext. 11

For Immediate Release    

KIDS NEED SUNGLASSES, CHILDREN'S EYE CARE EXPERT WARNS 
Pediatric Ophthalmologist Offers Tips to Protect Children’s Eyes in Summer

OAK BROOK, Illinois, June 28, 2007--Children whose unprotected eyes are exposed repeatedly to sunlight are more susceptible to serious damage leading to cataracts, macular degeneration and other major eye diseases, a leading pediatric eye care expert warns.

“With summer starting and kids spending more time outdoors, now is the time to ensure kids’ eyes are protected from dangerous UV exposure by providing sunglasses for them to wear,” says Dr. Nathalie Azar, M.D., a pediatric ophthalmologist at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “Start as early as you can, even though that might be difficult with small children who throw the glasses off every time you put them on—it's an important habit to instill.

“This is not about one-time exposure; the sun has a cumulative effect and causes damage over a lifetime,” said Dr. Azar. “This damage can cause someone to get cataracts at an earlier age. Just as it does to the skin, repeated exposure to UV light can cause damage to the eyes.”

“Parents would never go to the beach or pool without covering their children from head to toe with sunscreen,” said Jimmy M. Ross, president of Lions Clubs International. “They should be treating their children’s eyes with the same care. With sunburn, you can see skin get red hours after being in the sun. However, the impact on a child’s eyes isn’t visibly noticeable, but can be just as serious.”

“Like lighter skin, lighter eyes need extra care because they are more sensitive to light and sun,” said Dr. Azar.

Eye doctors warn that even low amounts of sunlight on a cloudy day could increase a child’s vulnerability to developing eye disorders. “With greater exposure to the sun, there is great risk,” said Dr. Azar.

As part of their longtime commitment to eye care and the health of people’s eyes, Lions clubs across the world are educating parents and children on the importance of wearing sunglasses. Over the past 16 years, Lions have donated more than $202 million in grant funding for such sight-related projects as cataract surgeries, constructing or expanding eye hospitals and clinics, vision testing in preschool and elementary schools, distributing sight-saving medication to prevent river blindness and training eye care professionals.

"Vision and eye care are often taken for granted by parents,” said Dr. Azar, who is a Lions club member, along with her husband and father.

Dr. Azar and the American Academy of Ophthalmology offer the following tips for parents to help protect their children’s eyes:

• Sunglasses must be both UVA- and UVB-protective. Let your children choose the ones they want so they will be more likely to wear them.
• Check out sports sunglasses that are made with polycarbonates or another material that is difficult to shatter.
• Wide-brimmed hats or baseball caps can provide protection from the sun if your children don’t like to wear sunglasses.
• Model positive behavior for your children by always wearing your sunglasses and hat when outside.
• Children still need to wear sunglasses or a hat on overcast days because harmful rays also come through clouds.
• Children should be taught to never look directly or stare into the sun.
• Keep your kids in the shade if you can. Try to keep children out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• Infants under six months should not be directly exposed to sun.

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with 1.3 million members in 45,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographical areas around the world. Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world. For more information on Lions Clubs International, visit www.lionsclubs.org.

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