Winter Eye Safety

As you find yourself right in the middle of winter, you may be trying to fit in one final trip before the skiing and snowboarding season is over. Whether you are a parent planning a weekend trip for your family, or a college student going on a day trip with your friends – before leaving, you should make sure you have taken the proper precautions to protect your eyes while navigating the slopes!

Although the amount of UV rays that reach the earth’s surface during the winter is much less than in the summer, snow can reflect up to 80% of all UV rays on a sunny winter day. This is huge when compared to the 10% of UV rays that are reflected by grass and the 15% reflected by dry beach sand. According to the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital, intense exposure can temporarily harm the eyes, producing “snow blindness” or photokeratitis. This can increase the risk of an individual developing sunlight-related eye disorders (such as cataracts) later in life.

An individual suffering from “snow blindness” may not experience symptoms for six-to-twelve hours after sun exposure. The most common symptom is the feeling of sand in one or both eyes. Other symptoms include tearing or watering of the eyes, bloodshot eyes, uncontrollable eyelid twitching and eyelid pain. Photokeratitis is caused by the inflammation of the cornea when exposed to the sun’s UV rays. “Snow blindness” has been known to cause temporary loss of vision, permanent vision damage and even the temporary swelling shut of eyelids.

If you find yourself suffering from “snow blindness,” remove yourself from the sunlight into a dark room and allow your eyes to rest. If you are wearing your contact lenses, remove them and make sure to not rub your eyes! If pain persists, make sure to seek medical attention! Your eye doctor may prescribe eye drops to help ease the pain of the inflamed cornea.

Don’t worry, though! Photokeratitis is completely avoidable. All you need to do is make sure you have the right protective eyewear on before going outside. If you are going to be out hiking or walking around in the snow, look for a pair of dark, polarized wraparound sunglasses. These will help block the UV rays that could be coming from any direction. If you will be skiing, snowboarding or tubing, look into a pair of goggles. Most goggles are polarized and have a reflective tinting that will block the harmful UV rays that are reflected from the snow. The walls around the goggle lens will also protect you from the cold and wind, keeping your face much warmer!

Winter eyewear has become sort of a fashion trend and an accessory, in addition to being an eye safety precaution. Consider the 2014 Winter Olympics that will be kicking off tonight in Sochi, Russia. Brands like Oakley have sponsored Olympic athletes including Shaun White and Jamie Anderson, who will sport their protective goggles. Oakley even has its “Team USA” collection of sunglasses and goggles available for purchase on their website. 

If you have any questions about choosing the right pair of sunglasses or goggles to help protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, don’t hesitate to talk to the eye care specialists at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley. They can help you choose the right pair of eyewear for the winter sporting activity you are looking to partake in!