With the colder weather fast approaching, many are excited to get back to their favourite winter sports. Whether you’re a skier, skater, or just someone who generally enjoys the great outdoors, winter sports aren’t without risks to your eyes. Aside from the physical risks of winter sports which can lead to falls that result in fractures of the eye socket or trauma to the eye itself, a risk that people tend to forget about during winter comes from the Sun!  Let’s take a deeper look at a condition known as “Snow Blindness” and how you can protect yourself from it. If you are already knowledgeable on the subject, take our quiz. Otherwise, keep reading to learn more!

Snow Blindness Causes

Snow Blindness, also known as Arc Eye or Photokeratitis, refers to the temporary eye pain and discomfort that can come from overexposure to the Sun. When the Sun’s UV rays are reflected off the snow or ice, they put your eyes at risk. The overexposure to UV light can cause this painful condition which can effectively be described as a sunburn on your cornea, the outer layer of your eye.

Snow Blindness Symptoms

Snow blindness symptoms don’t immediately appear, sometimes appearing several hours after the corneas have been damaged. Symptoms can include pain and burning in the eyes, swollen or red eyelids, sensitivity to light, headache, and blurred vision. Though less frequent, snow blindness can sometimes cause temporary vision loss and temporary color changes. 

Snow Blindness Treatment

Although there isn’t much a doctor can do aside from diagnosing the condition, snow blindness usually goes away on its own after a day or two once the corneas have recovered. The best treatment is to rest your eyes away from UV light. To soothe painful burning symptoms, consider using a cold compress and keeping your corneas moisturized with artificial tears to promote healing.

If your symptoms persist or worsen, this could indicate another underlying condition such conjunctivitis, superficial keratitis, or solar retinopathy, in which case you should schedule an appointment with an eye doctor. 

Snow Blindness Prevention

Luckily, there are preventative measures you can take before undertaking your favourite outdoor winter activity! Choosing the right goggles or sunglasses can help prevent eye injuries. When selecting your next pair, be sure to opt for polycarbonate lenses, which are lightweight and impact resistant, and lenses with 100% UV protection, as to protect yourself from harmful UV rays reflected off the snow and ice.

TO LEARN MORE: 

To test your knowledge on other vision problems, try our quiz on HETEROCHROMIA and read our article on the subject!