Protecting an i CHILDREN’S SUNGLASSES are an issue of neither fashion nor com- fort; they are a necessity, for safety. By Carol Crenna Contributing Writer - Any parent knows that children spend more time in the sun than adults. Playing outdoors, they face not only the sun’s direct rays, but glare from sand, concrete, snow and water. But most children do not wear protection. People don’t realize that children’s eyes are more sensitive _than those of adults, says James Knowles, distributor of PediOp- tics. . The infant eye contains a soft crystalline Iens that is clear at birth. Though the lens will later turn yellow to prevent normal amounts of ultraviolet (UV) rays Fashion’s fun and funky styles carry portant part PEDIOPTICS... shades for tots. from reaching the retina, up to the age of eight, 75% of that radiation will get through. Blue and green-eyed children are at greater risk. Knowles, who has introduced {f summer top-quality children’s sunglasses to the Canadian market, cautions that the type of sunglasses you choose for a child may actually do more damage than good. He says that cheap sunglasses, not offering protection from UV rays at a level of 400, may make the pupil enlarge and allow greater amounts of the damaging rays in- to the eye. His PediOptics brand of sunglasses are said to be a high- quality product offering excellent protection from the sun. They fit newborns to eight-year-olds, in four sizes. ° The shades feature shatterproof UV 400 lenses made from polycarbonate. The nylon frames are durable and non-toxic. Two fashion styles include a_ classic Vuarnet look and a sporty design with leather side pieces. PediOptics are available in children’s boutiques and are pric- ‘ed ‘at $17.95. For more informa- tion, contact Julie Prescott at 980-7621., . over to eyewear for summer season FROM SHEER elegant and long layers to the flowery and funky °710s and bohemian looks, interna- _tional fashion runways showed a bit of everything for spring °93. And for fashion accessories like eyewear and sunwear, the sane holds true. ‘ According to international eyewear ‘manufacturer Safilo Greup — whose collections in- clude designers like Gianfranco Ferre, Laura Biagiotti, Gucci and Polo Ralph Lauren — bountiful design options are the rule this season for those wishing to update their eyewear and sunwear ward- robes, Frank Karlo, senior executive at Safilo Group, notes that ‘‘al- though some distinct’ fashion di- rections have surfaced this year, the, emphasis is now on_ the wearer’s personal style.”’ As for some of the newest design trends, here are a few guidelines. . Metal frames, which have been growing in popularity for several seasons, are continuing strong this spring: : Sophisticated, elegant and wearable cat-eye spin-offs con- tinue as a popular shape in both eyewear and sunwear collections from Gucci and Laura Biagiotti. For plastic frames, black and marbled browns are always popv- lar; however, a rainbow of colors on one frame will be seen. Show to benefit Autism Society FASHIONS FROM... Heather- ‘ingtons Park Royal Boutique will “be among more than 20. items _ auctioned during a fundraiser for autism called ‘‘An Evening of Wine and Roses in Venice’? on Saturday, May 15, in Vancouver. The fundraiser is sponsored by the Autism Society of B.C. and also features a champagne recep- tion, dinner, and dance in the Crystal Ballroom of the Pan Pacific Hotel. The event costs $100 per per- son. Participants will receive a tax receipt for approximately $60 of the ticket price. Tickets. are available at ‘Tick- etMaster. ; _ .For . more T31-1119 information, call For the ultra-trendy, the eyewear and. sunwear coilections from designer Gianfranco Ferre feature primary shapes such as circles, rectangles and triangles. And you'll see that fashion pages are full uf geometrics, from the small ’70s granny glasses with no nosepads, to a multitude of other shapes. Photo submitted COTTON SLEEPSHIATS with romantic Victorian motif, $25, are available on the North Shore at Fairweathes boutiques in Park Royal South and Capilano Mail. Five dollars from each purchase is donated to the Children’s Miracle Network, which raises and awareness to support more than 160 children’s hospitals in North America. With each purchase, customers receive a somplementary child-size sleepshirt, which, at the customer’s request, Fairweather will donate to aiocal children’s association. Women’s Fashions and Accessories Italian Jewellery 30% 0FF Closed Monday 15. St., N. Van. 988-8334 net Sie pleased to announce that JEN- NIFER BLOOMFIELD. has joined our Dundarave studio. Jennifer invites her clients to contact her at either 987-4440 or 922-4911. DENTURE ~- WEARERS TAKE THIS TEST... Are your dentures Q Requiring lots of paste Q Loose O Causing you to age Q Cracked, worn Q Worn in your pocket = Q Over five years old QO Missing Teeth QO Difficult to fit If you have checked any of the above, call us fora FREE consultation. NEW DENTURES OSOFT LINERS O RELINES Q REPAIRS DENTAL MECHANICS: RAOUL ANDERSON . MARZENA PTAK - ROBERT PALLAI! ° All Dental Plans Accepted * Seniors Discounts RAOUL ANDERSON DENTURE CLINIC 135 E. Columbia Street 378-3025 Lougheed Hwy. -New Westminster, Sunwood Square, Coquitlam 526-6033 942-6722 Langley North Vancouver 20412 Fraser Hwy. #105-140 West 15th 534-4733 985-1710 {t brings out the best ial of us. United Way of the’ ower Mainland