Five tips to protect your eyesight during ski season
In winter, snow can reflect up to 80% of sunlight, thus increasing the effects of long exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Owing to this situation, the lack of proper protection can lead to different eye injuries. Hence, our specialists stress the need to take care of your eyes during ski season.
“Taking measures against the sun’s ultraviolet light has to be your priority to protect your eyes and continue to enjoy the snow without worrying,” Dr Daniel Elies, a medical director at IMO Grupo Miranza in Madrid, highlights. “In any mountain context with snowy and reflective conditions, the problem is that the incidence of sun rays not only occurs from the top down, but also from the bottom up, because of snow’s reflection.”
Dr Elies warns about the risks associated with ultraviolet radiation exposure and dry environments as some of the main risk factors for several eye conditions and injuries. Major complications are as follows:
- Photokeratitis: This is an acute inflammation of the cornea that starts to appear six to ten hours after exposure in both eyes, causing pain, blurred vision, tearing, photophobia and red eye.
- Pinguecula: This is a harmless, raised growth that appears on the inner part of the conjunctiva with a usually round and yellowish aspect, following excessive sun exposure, lack of hydration, dry eyes or wind. Pinguecula can sometimes lead to eye irritation, foreign body sensation, tearing or impaired vision.
- Pterygium: This benign lesion consists of an overgrowth of the conjunctiva, i.e. the membrane that covers the white part of the eyeball, which usually forms in the inner area of the eye and may increase in size and impair vision. Symptoms include a foreign body sensation in the eye.
- Cataracts: The clouding of the eye lens, which is now considered one of the most common causes of vision loss, may also be due to ongoing exposure to ultraviolet rays.
- Dry eye: This condition occurs when tears cannot adequately lubricate the eye, hence causing discomfort, as well as visual issues and, in some cases, lesions on the eye surface that could damage the cornea and the conjunctiva, i.e. the membrane that covers both the inner surface of the eyelid and the eyeball.
Major warning signs of these complications include eye redness, sensitivity to light, tearing, blurred vision or foreign body sensation.
“Eye fatigue, irritation and discomfort can also appear due to external agents, such as cold, sun or wind,” Dr Elies adds.
How to protect your eyes during ski season
The IMO Grupo Miranza specialist also provides some recommendations to bear in mind so as not to endanger your vision.
- Use sunglasses that block ultraviolet radiation
You should use glasses featuring a category 4 filter, which are specifically indicated for high-mountain areas, due to their ability to absorb 82 to 92% of light. Moreover, these glasses prevent foreign bodies from getting into your eyes. - Increase measures to protect your eyes from sun exposure
Taking measures against sun exposure is key to keeping your eyes healthy. To do so, apart from using appropriate sunglasses, it is advisable to take additional measures, such as protecting yourself with hats or caps. - Keep your eyes hydrated
Drier environments, such as those in high-mountain areas, mean that the eyes tend to dry out more easily, so it may be necessary to use eye drops to keep your eyes hydrated at all times. - Blink more often
This simple habit spreads a film of tears in your eyes, thus preventing dry eyes. Increasing its frequency will therefore help to keep your eyes lubricated for longer. - Do not rub your eyesWind can cause foreign bodies to get into your eyes. If this happens, it is best to rinse them with plenty of water and, if the discomfort persists, see an ophthalmologist. Rubbing your eyes may cause small injuries that can damage the cornea.
