What Is Snow Blindness & How Can You Prevent It?
Bright sun and blue skies make perfect bluebird days for skiing, boarding, hiking, or just being out in the snow. But if youre not wearing UV-blocking sunglasses in conditions where the suns rays reflect off snow, you could be headed for a painful case of snow blindness.
What Is Snow Blindness?
Snow blindness or sunburned eyesalso known as photokeratitis (photo for light and keratitis for inflammation of the cornea)can sneak up on you. As with sunburned skin, by the time you notice the symptoms of snow blindness, you've already been out in the sun too long.
The same precaution applies when the sun reflects off water or sand, emphasizing the importance of protecting your eyes in various outdoor environments.
People dont need to suffer from snow blindness, as its easily preventable, says Jean Tabin, MD, an ophthalmologist at the John A. Moran Eye Center at 泫圖弝け of Utah 泫圖弝け. Luckily, its temporary, and the symptoms should subside in a day or two.
Heres what you should know about snow blindness:
Snow Blindness Symptoms
Symptoms include:
- Eye pain
- Burning or gritty sensation in the eye
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurry vision
- Seeing halos around light sources
- Swollen eyes and eyelids
- Headache
How to Treat Snow Blindness
- Give your eyes a rest.
- Stay indoors and wear sunglasses to reduce the amount of light exposure.
- If you wear contacts, take them out.
- Use preservative-free artificial tears to keep your eyes moistthink of it like using aloe vera for sunburn on your skin.
- Whatever you do, don't rub your eyes. This will only worsen the irritation.
If symptoms are severe, it may be best to see an ophthalmologist. You don't want to risk long-term damage.
How to Prevent Snow Blindness
The best way to protect against snow blindness is to protect your eyes with sunglasses or snow goggles. It doesn't necessarily matter how dark they are as long as they block 99% of the suns UV rays.
"Bigger sunglasses are best," Tabin notes. "Wearing goggles or sunglasses that wrap around will give you the most protection."
Dont ditch your sunglasses if youre outside on a cloudy dayany time of year. Although the suns glare is less noticeable on overcast days, UV rays still penetrate the clouds and can cause damage.
