Send page Sending message… Home Latest News List Latest News Story Wear ski goggles to prevent snow blindness 22/02/2013 15:25:47 The joys of skiing can never be overstated. The rush of icy wind in your face as you successfully negotiate the hairpin turns of a red run and manage to dodge snowboarders flailing wildly is second to none, but it is still important to remember the dangers associated with the activity. Eye surgeon Milind Pande of the Vision Surgery & Research Centre has been warning snow sports fanatics about the risks people take with their eyesight by failing to wear sunglasses or goggles when they are out on the slopes. Full eye coverage is essential for preventing the potentially catastrophic combination of white snow and dazzling sun, he pointed out. More than one million Britons go on skiing holidays every year and although we are all familiar with snow and ice, many still succumb to snow blindness, a condition caused by failing to use adequately protective eyewear in high ultraviolet (UV) light conditions like skiing, the consultant ophthalmologist advised. This can be prevented by wearing appropriate sunglasses that filter UVA and UVB light and have side coverage of the eyes, when youre off-piste or even whilst enjoying that outdoor lunch. As any skier who has forgotten their sunglasses seconds after getting on a button lift can attest, being dazzled by the sun is not a pleasant experience - and it can actually cause lasting damage to the macula of the retina, which is not reversible. Relief comes in the form of lubricating eye drops from a pharmacist or from a hospital if necessary. Snow blindness, or photokeratitis as it is medically known, is characterised by swollen, watering red eyes and sensitivity to light. It can also affect your vision, which is very precarious when you are on the mountainside. Mr Pande said photokeratitis is a condition associated with high altitudes and reflective snow coverage, but skiers not not likely to know about it and will therefore fail to prevent it from happening to them. When on a skiing break it is easy to forget to constantly protect your eyes against the harsh effects of a snow and sun combination, especially when there is a good covering of snow and people are keen to make the most of it. Snow blindness is extremely painful, can be a very worrying experience for the sufferer and would definitely put a halt to any skiing holiday, he noted. However, most of all, it is crucial that the patient should avoid the initial cause. Dark glasses and avoidance of bright light will also make the eyes more comfortable. Padding the eye closed for 24 hours is also helpful. If there is severe pain, the patient must seek the opinion of an eye doctor. Although wearing full snow goggles may seem a bit pointless when the conditions are good, they do more than just protect your eyes from the sun - they also stop the rest of your face from developing sunburn. If you normally wear glasses for day-to-day life, you can even get prescription goggles to wear on your ski trips. These can be coated in a protective layer to stop them from getting scratched. 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Posted on: Mon, 04 Nov 2013 21:35:25 +0000
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