Staying Safe In The Snow

Après-ciating the dangers of snowblindness!

The ski season has arrived and the count down until you can put on your skis or jump onto your board has begun!. But before you go speeding down the slopes, have you taken the time to look into the precautions you need against a dangerous combination of sun and snow?

Being up on in mountains, where the air is that much cooler, can lead to a false sense of security. You might not feel that the conditions require eye protection but the higher the altitude, the greater the ultraviolet (UV) radiation, because there is less atmosphere to block the harmful sun rays. That means it’s always worth ensuring you’re wearing your goggles or at the very least, a pair of UV protectant sunglasses.

We all wear our sunglasses and slap on the sunscreen in the summer but when it comes to ski trips it’s easy to forget to protect ourselves against the harsh effects of a snow and sun combination.

Spending a long time in the snow can cause you to succumb to snow blindness, a condition caused by failing to use adequately protective eyewear in high ultraviolet (UV) light conditions, that being surrounded by snow creates.

Photokeratitis or snow blindness typically occurs at high altitudes on highly reflective snow fields. Symptoms include painful watering red eyes, swollen eyelids, sensitivity to light and reduced vision caused by damage to the cornea. In short, it’s not very fun!

If you think you may be suffering from photokeratitis following your trip, we recommend that you visit us immediately. Dark sunglasses and avoidance of bright light will help to make the eyes more comfortable.

Stay safe and have a great trip!