Children may not be as interested as *****s are in the fashion aspect of sunglasses. But because kids spend much more time than most *****s do outdoors and in direct sunlight, UV protection for the eyes is extra important.

In fact, many experts believe our eyes get 80 percent of their total lifetime exposure to the sun's UV rays by age 18. And since excessive lifetime exposure to UV radiation has been linked to the development of cataracts and other eye problems, it's never too early for kids to begin wearing good quality sunglasses outdoors.