Snow Blindness

Well, if you live in Cleveland you KNOW why we're putting this post up!    We are known to have  some pretty crazy weather around here.  Quite a few of our patients will notice how bright it is when the sun is out and the snow is on the ground, and some of them were worried about Snow Blindness. So what, exactly, IS snow blindness, anyway?

Ultraviolet light in high doses is actually toxic to many parts of the eye. The cornea, the window to the eye, is especially affected by exposure to these high doses. In fact, welder's flash is actually an ultraviolet "burn" to the cornea. There is lots of UV light in sunlight. On snowy landscapes when the sun is out the UV light is not only transmitted directly into the eye from above, but it is reflected and CONCENTRATED or focused by the snow crystals on the ground.

Snow blindness is a kind of UV damage to the cornea. That's why you always see pictures of mountaneers wearing sunglasses with side shields, or very dark goggles.Same thing for skiers, if they are being smart about eye protection!

Can you get snow blindness here in Cleveland just from your daily activities? Well, probably not. At least not unless you are a park ranger in our Emerald Necklace of Metroparks!

Time To Plan For Ski Season! All new Zeal by Maui Jim are here!

We know...we know...it was just 67 degrees in Cleveland a couple of weeks ago! Crazy, huh?! Even so, winter is just around the corner and it's time to get ready for ski season. It's very important to think about UV protection on the slopes, just like it's important to protect your eyes on the beach and on the water.

When you are skiing or snowboarding you are exposed to UV light from the sun above, but you are also getting bathed in UV rays that are reflected UP off the snow! That's why snow blindness, basically a UV burn on the front of your eyes, is such a big problem.

How about polarization? At Skyvision Centers we think polarization is a personal choice. On very bright days it can help to cut down on glare and reflections, but sometimes it actually makes it harder to pick out obstacles (think moguls! ) on those gray, flat light days.

We have a great selection of Oakley, Adidas and Ed Hardy and the all new Zeal by Maui Jim ski goggles in our Westlake, Ohio office, and we can order any hard to find lens/goggle combo.  Now is the time to be thinking about protecting your eyes whether you are skiing or boarding!  How about a new pair for a Christmas gift?