UV Tips for Travelers #UVTips4Travelers

I got to attend a travel blogger briefing about UV eye safety a few weeks ago by the Vision Council and I'm excited to pass on what I learned. 

If you've read this blog for very long you know that my daughter suffers from an eye condition caused by allergies that is difficult to control. When it's at it's worst she becomes extremely sensitive to light. So, our family knows first hand how crucial it is to protect your eyes no matter what your age is. If your child is overly sensitive to sunlight take them to see an eye doctor immediately, not the pediatrician. This is a sign that something is wrong.

As you can see, I'm not kidding, we have everyone covered!

Now back to the UV eye safety briefing I got to attend. Here's some of the great stuff I learned.

• By the time a child turns 18, they will have acquired nearly 80% of lifetime exposure to UV. Kids need to wear sunglasses.
• Always carry/pack sunglasses with you that way you have them when you need them, because your eyes can get SUNBURNED!
• Some cities have more intense UV Rays then others: Rome, Italy, Orlando, Hawaii, Las Vegas, and Atlanta. Here's a chart for you to check.
  

• If your wearing sunscreen you should also be wearing sunglasses.
• When skiing you should were at least sunglasses, goggles would be even better because snow reflects 85% of UV light!

Kids ski goggles are very affordable. We got our kids ski goggles at Big 5 on Black Friday for $10 a pair.






Wondering what the UV levels are near you? 
In case your unsure what type of protection to get or unsure which is the best to purchase check out this great guide.

As you plan your future travel heading into fall – please remember to pack your UV-protective eyewear – and take lots of pictures! The Vision Council would love to see your UV safety practices in action and hope that you will share them on The Vision Council’s Facebook page (facebook.com/thevisioncouncil). Or, tweet travel pictures with their designated hashtag #UVTips4Travelers.

Related articles

• Protect Your Kids' Eyes from the Sun When You Travel 

Why Kids Need An Annual Eye Exam

Why Kids Need An Annual Eye Exam

As you get your children ready to go back to school, don’t forget that getting them an annual comprehensive eye exam. I say this, because I learned the hard way. My daughter was diagnosed by an optometrist in 2010 with Vernal Conjunctivitis, this was after taking her to 8 doctors. If I had been getting her annual eye exams we would have caught this way sooner. We were really lucky that her vision was able to fully recover. She sees a pediatric ophthalmologist every few months now and insurance, thankfully, covers all her visits.

Annual eye exams are important for everyone in your family. They allow eye doctors to detect early signs of health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, among others.

1. Parents should take their children to the eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam starting as young as six months old, then again at three years old, before kindergarten and every year after that.

2. In-school screenings do not provide the same level of detection as comprehensive eye exams.

3. 80% of what we learn is through our eyes, making an eye exam essential for your back-to-school “to do” list.

4. Common signs of vision problems include squinting, head tilting, avoiding “close work,” trouble focusing, continuous rubbing of eyes, excessive blinking, and headaches. Learn more.

5. 1 in 4 children has an undetected vision condition that can negatively impact learning.

 

Should you get vision insurance?

With VSP Vision Care, you can:

1.Keep your eyes healthy with highly credentialed doctors who provide the most thorough exams.

2.Save money – the average VSP member saves approximately $320 each year with vision insurance!

3.Get access to great eyewear – more than two dozen brands and hundreds of styles to choose from!

About VSP Vision Care (VSP)

As the only national not-for-profit in vision care, VSP reinvests in the things its nearly 60 million members value most – the best care at the lowest out-of-pocket costs. With a network of 30,000 doctors and highest credentialing requirements, VSP members have the freedom to choose the provider, location, and eyewear that’s right for them. It’s easy to see why VSP is consumers’ #1 choice in vision care.


SeeMuchMore.com is a one-stop site for all the information you need about enrolling in vision benefits. The site includes a virtual savings calculator to estimate your savings with VSP vision benefits and helpful information about maintaining healthy vision.



I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.