What is Snow Blindness?
It is a transitory reduction in vision that is produced by sunlight that is very bright reflecting off the snow. Recovery from this disorder usually will occur within 24 hours. In some situations, an individual has problems differentiating between colors after snow blindness, and might see everything colored red for a long time period.
In the majority of cases, this condition fades when an individual stays indoors and rests the eyes.
But, in cases that are rare, exposure to the light that is reflected for extended time periods may lead to solar retinopathy, a condition that can result in specific permanent vision loss. Wearing sunglasses or dark goggles might help to prevent snow blindness.
Symptoms of Snow Blindness
If you have this condition you might not realize this for several hours after exposure. Symptoms or signs of snow blindness might consist of:
- Cornea and conjunctiva becoming burnt
- Eyes might become extremely bloodshot
- Gradual increase in tears
- Pain that worsens over time
- Feel as if there is grit in the eyes
- Eyes might swell – in some cases to an extent that they are shut
- Rare cases where individuals become blind
Snow blindness may be prohibited by the wearing of the correct type of eyewear. Sunglasses should diffuse 5 to 10 percent of light that is visible and captivate virtually all ultraviolet rays. It is also vital that the eyes are protected on the sides as well as the front due to the fact that light may come in thru the sides of the glasses. Look for sunglasses that have eye-shields on the sides. Mountain climbers as well as mountaineers are especially susceptible since being on ground that is higher is where there is less atmospheric filtering of UV rays. As well, reflection from ice and snow may make eyes especially exposed to UVB light and create this condition. It is vital to wear sunglasses even if the sky is overcast in order to guard the eyes. This is due to the fact that UV rays might still pass thru clouds.
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Snow Blindness Causes
Snow blindness is caused by the loss of vision that is linked with the inflammation of the conjunctiva and the cornea. This is caused by ultraviolet ray exposure and the sunlight that reflects off the snow. The loss of any vision might be temporary or it can be permanent.
So the causes of snow blindness include:
- High altitude – Less UTV rays are filtered out the higher the altitude is. It is these UV rays that cause snow blindness which is basically sunburn of the cornea of the eyes. So at higher altitudes, more UV rays are available to cause damage.
- Snow is also the cause of this condition. The white color of snow reflects much more LTV rays off of the ground and back onto the face.
Snow Blindness Treatment
Just like any type of sunburn, the effect of snow blindness will not be felt until hours after exposure. With a case that is mild, the eyes will be bloodshot and teary. With a case that is more severe, the eyes will feel as if they are full of sand and might even swell shut. The corneas heal typically in twelve to forty-eight hours and still painful, snow blindness very rarely results in damage that is permanent.
The following steps may be taken to treat the eyes:
- Take out contact lenses and do not rub the eyes
- Use cool, wet compresses to aid in easing pain from the burn, or take a pain medication such as ibuprofen.
- Cover each eye with gauze or cloth half-inch-thick pads in order to shield them from light and avoid any irritation from movement of the eyelid.
- Check the injury at intervals of every 8 hours. When you can keep the eyes open comfortably, remove dressing. Wear sunglasses when outside until the symptoms completely disappear.
- If you are on a climbing trip in the mountains it is advisable to let the eyes heal prior to continuing but if conditions will not allow for any extra days, have your hiking partner lead you down the trail slowly.
