Q: Should I get my kid to wear sunglasses? A: Yes. Ultra-violet light puts young eyes at risk for eye problems that often occur in adulthood such as cataracts, macular degeneration, and eyelid cancers. Many of my patients with skin cancer rue the fact that their parents did not get them protected from the sun adequately in childhood. Kids can be pretty fussy with their clothing (including eyewear), but for their sake it would be worth getting them to wear sunglasses. Getting brand-name sunglasses might be a good way to get a youngster to wear them, but inexpensive sunglasses will do the trick as long as they are certified to be UV protective.