Children are more susceptible to UV radiation because they spend more times outdoors in sunlight than adults do. Their natural lens of the eye is not fully developed in the case of children and even though the cornea filters in most of UV radiation, some still seeps through to the lens clouding it over time. This leads to problems such as macular degeneration later in life. Children staying in hot arid areas that have plenty of sunshine are more susceptible to this risk.

Childrens sunglasses are ergonomically designed keeping in mind the specific needs to children. They are sturdily built for rough use but at the same time be made from soft materials so as to cause no harm. There are no sharp edges, hard surfaces or small parts incorporated into the design which can injure children. A variant of these sunglasses is designed in one piece as a wraparound which can be worn by using a band. This band can usually be fastened using a clip or Velcro. Childrens sunglasses also perform the same functions as adults sunglasses i.e. protect from bright sunlight, reduce infrared, and block UV as well as blue light.