The health of our children's eyes is now as important as all the other aspects of their development.
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Medical research has revealed that children under the age of 10 years are unable to block out as much UV radiation as adult's eyes, making their eyes more susceptible to the damage caused by UV rays.
School Shades Managing Director, David Whetton is behind the biggest eye-health initiative to take place in Australian primary schools and soon every Southern Highlands primary school will have access to the highest quality eye care.
"As a father of three young children and a primary educator, I am committed to the health and well-being of my family and to the pastoral care and health of students. It's a passion I've brought to every classroom for over a decade," David said.
A personlised sample of School Shades sunglasses has been sent to every primary school in the Southern Highlands.
School Shades come in 3 sizes, small (Years K-1), medium (Years 3-4) and large (Years 5-6) and each pair is colour-coordinated and therefore integrated with each school's uniform.
School Shades are personalised with the school's name, so schools can be assured of an effortless merger into their existing uniform, and students continue to feel proud of wearing their School Shades.School Shades come with a quality hard-case to protect the shades, with a handy plastic clip to attach to a school bag zipper.
David has thought of everything ensuring a quality micro-fibre cleaning cloth is included with each pair of sunglasses to keep the lenses clean and had a name-place on the inside arm and on the hard case.
Parents can access School Shades directly from their child's school Uniform Shop or via the school's P&C Committee.
It is an excellent way to promote good eye-health while raising valuable funds for each school community.
Bowral ophthalmologist Dr Con Petsoglou fully supports the School Shades program.
"Recent Australian studies have demonstrated that sun-related conditions start at a young age. Children as young as eight years of age show permanent sun-related scarring to their eyes."
Dr Petsoglou said appropriately designed sunglasses do prevent this damage.
" Public health initiatives to protect children's eyes and encourage sunglasses usage are vital for good eye health within our community," he said.
"Students are sent out to play with a hat to protect their skin yet not with a pair of sunglasses to protect their eyes, when UV rays are at their strongest," David said.
"A broad-brimmed hat has been an integral part of primary school uniforms since the mid 1990s, but only offers 50 per cent protection from UV rays."
David said now sunglasses complete the final 50 per cent of sun protection for our children.