MEDIA RELEASE
Kids to get free sunglasses from Monday December 1
Carlisle Mason Optometrists to promote UV protection and eye care among children with free talks at schools and
kindergartens and 5000 pairs of free sunglasses to give away.
AUCKLAND, Friday 28 November 2008 – Family optometry group Carlisle Mason Optometrists will next month be giving 5000
pairs of sunglasses free to children and offering to visit schools and kindergartens to talk about outdoor eye
protection for children in the summer.
Carlisle Mason decided to give educational talks at schools and kindergartens after the initial notice of free
sunglasses to schools and kindergartens for children was met with an enthusiastic response from teachers.
The children’s sunglasses will be provided free for children from age 3 to the age of 8 from the 1st of December by
Carlisle Mason Optometrists as part of a drive to encourage good eye care awareness among children, their teachers, and
their parents.
“We have had extreme interest from schools and kindergartens all over on providing an educational talk and giveaway of
children’s eye protection for the summer,” says Lynden Mason, optometrist and director of Carlisle Mason Optometrists.
“We are rather glad that teachers are paying attention to the health of their students’ eyesight,” says Lynden Mason,
optometrist and director of Carlisle Mason Optometrists. “Having talks at schools not only makes it easier for parents
but also allows us to educate more children about summer eye protection at one time.”
Mason says that just like skin, eyes are susceptible to the damage that intense sunlight can bring. Wearing protective
eyewear with sufficient UVA and UVB filtering can help prevent against potential cataracts and macular development later
in a child’s life.
“Eye care is an area of children’s health that always tends to be overlooked,” says Mason. “Parents have to be mindful
of their children’s eyesight, and unfortunately this awareness only happens when remedial measures are required like
corrective glasses, or worse - surgery. Parents and teachers should teach kids to protect their eyes from an early age.”
Mason recommends that every child should have their eyes tested around age 3, then again when they start school.
However, he stresses that proper eye care must not be neglected in between examinations, including basic eye safety such
as wearing sunglasses in bright sunlight.
Mason says that just like skin, eyes are susceptible to the damage that intense sunlight can bring. Wearing protective
eyewear with sufficient UVA and UVB filtering can help prevent against potential cataracts and macular development later
in a child’s life.
Sunglasses available at all visited schools and all Carlisle Mason branches
Carlisle Mason children’s sunglasses will be given away free at the schools Carlisle Mason is visiting as well as their
five branches in Auckland. According to Mason, the only conditions to the giveaway are that sunglasses are limited to
one per child within the age limit and only while stocks last.
“Parents are welcome to bring their young children along to any of our stores for a free pair of sunnies,” says Mason.
“There are no strings attached, and we do not require a voucher or for anyone to get an eye examination done – although
eye tests are something we strongly encourage!”
“With the summer holidays approaching, it pays to get kids prepared for the UV-intense New Zealand sun. Think of
slipping on sunglasses as part of the key messaging around the ‘slip-slop-slap’ summer safety campaigns.”
Schools who are interested in having a Carlisle Mason visit them can contact Jacque Douglas on 09 575 5568.
ENDS