The reason of child susceptibility is due to their less well developed pigmentation of the eye. Exposure of the eye to UV can also induce melanoma of the eye and photokeratitis. Photokeratitis is also known as sun blindness or welder's flash, and is basically a painful burn on the surface of the eye. Protection from these disorders is via sunglasses, although ironically exposure to the UV radiation may be enhanced by sunglasses that poorly absorb UV because the pupil opens wider to compensate for the reduced visible light. One good point about sunlight is that it can produce vitamin D in the skin.
Vitamin D is considered both a hormone and a vitamin.
It participates in normal cell growth, and could play a role in cancer prevention. Vitamin D also helps in the regulation of blood sugar by acting on insulin, and more importantly calcium and phosphorus, enabling bone and teeth to harden. In vitamin D deficiency bones soften to the point that they curve, a condition in children known as rickets and osteomalacia in adults. Ultraviolet radiation can be brought to good use if used appropriately. It can be used as a germicidal agent.