We Hoosiers don’t get a whole lot of snow in the winter.  Consequently, when we do, we aren’t always aware of the dangers of snow  blindness.  Got a hint of it this morning going back and forth to the mailbox.  In 10 inches of snow, it was slow going, even with my sturdy snowshoes.  And yet, the bright sunlight was so cheerful that I didn’t mind the cold.  But when I got back in the house, everything looked green.  I had a temporary case of what the doctors call photokeratitis.    Within minutes, my vision was back to normal.  But if I’d spent the day on the ski slopes, it might not have cleared up so fast.   Beware of sunlight on the snow.

Snow blindness is like a sunburn to the eyes,  caused by exposure of the eyes to ultraviolet rays reflected from snow or ice. It  can happen to people who work or play outside for long hours on bright, sunny days. Snow  burned eyes can sneak up on you. As with sunburned skin, by the time you notice the symptoms of snow blindness, you’ve already been out in the sun too long.

Symptoms include:

• eye pain,
• a burning or gritty sensation in the eye,
• sensitivity to light,
• blurry vision, and
• seeing halos around light sources.         :

Fortunately, snow blindness is usually a temporary condition, lasting about 2 days.  Here’s the treatment advised by opthamologists.

• Apply frequent preservative-free artificial tear lubricants
• Stay indoors, preferably in a dark room if you are experiencing light sensitivity, and/or wear dark sunglasses
• Don’t wear contact lenses until the condition has been resolved
• Apply cold compresses to the eyes
• Avoid rubbing your eyes
• Topical anti-inflammatories or antibiotics may be prescribed in severe cases
• Use OTC oral pain relievers

Snow blindness can easily be prevented by wearing sunglasses.  Simply wear sunglasses that block 100 percent of the sun’s UV rays whenever you are outdoors during daylight.

 Children  love to play outside in the  the snow, but  most parents don’t think of telling them to wear sunglasses.  According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, ultraviolet light  damage is cumulative over a lifetime.  Children should wear sunglasses to  help to reduce ultra violet related eye diseases in later life.  Having your kids wear sunglasses when the ground is covered with snow is as important as having them wear them on a summer day at the beach..

If you want to prevent snow blindness, dig out those summer sunglasses and wear them outside on bright, snowy days.