In an effort to educate parents about the need to protect children's eye health, Prevent Blindness America, the nation's oldest eye health and safety organization, and Real Kids Shades (RKS) a leading manufacturer of quality eyewear for infants and children, are teaming up to ensure that 5 million children have healthy eyes for healthy futures.

The joint effort supports "Star Pupils," a trademark program of Prevent Blindness America to promote eye health and safety designed to arm parents with the information they need to help their children achieve a lifetime of healthy vision.

To support this effort, Real Kids Shades has designed a Star Pupils-branded pair of 100 percent ultraviolet (UV-A and UV-B) protective sunglasses with a percentage of proceeds from sales donated directly to the children's vision education initiative. The frames come in size 0-24 months in either pink or blue.

"Real Kids Shades is clearly committed to children's vision health and eye safety and the company has made it its mission to help provide parents with a quality product that helps protect the precious gift of sight in our children," said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness America. "We thank RKS for their generous support of Star Pupils, demonstrating its continued passion for healthy eyes for healthy futures."

In addition to providing information on eye conditions such as "lazy eye" or "crossed eyes." Star Pupils also includes information on the importance of eye safety, including the effects of continued UV exposure. UV damage is cumulative, meaning that although the effects of the eye damage may not present itself immediately, over time, the damage may become significant enough to impair vision.

Prevent Blindness America recommends that children's sunglasses block 100 percent UV-A and UV-B ultraviolet rays and should eliminate glare and squinting. The lenses should be checked for flaws, such as scratches, bubbles and distortions that can cause children's eyes to work harder, resulting in squinting, tearing and even headaches. Sunglasses that suit children's active lifestyles that are impact-resistant and made of polycarbonate materials should also be considered.

"Recognizing that children's eyes are at special risk from the harmful effects of UV rays, since their eyes are still developing and are more vulnerable to sun damage, we developed Real Kids Shades to provide serious UV protection," says Lisa Medora, vice president of product development, Real Kids Shades. "By providing support to Star Pupils, we hope parents will make their children's eye health a priority."

The specially designed Star Pupils sunglasses by Real Kids Shades offers 100 percent UV-A and UV-B protection and may be purchased for $14.99. Parents may visit starpupils.org/partners or realkidshades.com for more information, or call (800) 283-1106.