Snow Blindness

Snow Blindness






Snow blindness is medically called “photokeratitis” which causes eye damage temporarily when the eyes are exposed to prolonged sunlight. It would cause painful condition on the eyes and people who travel more in snowy regions or on high altitudes are prone to snow blindness. Very often, the powerful UV rays of the sun would burn the cornea of the eyes. Initially it will not be noticed but after some time, there would be considerable pain on the eyes or severe eye twitching.

Causes :

Snow blindness is caused by prolonged exposure of UV light of the sun. People who are traveling in elevated areas or snowy glaciers will be under constant exposure of powerful sunlight reflected from the snow. Obviously, snow is capable of reflecting back 75-80% of UV rays and hence it is necessary to take protective goggles before proceeding to hiking snowy peaks.

Who are at risk?

Frequent travelers who often visit snowy terrain and climbing high altitudes are at the risk of developing snow blindness. People who are actively involved in hiking activities like tourists guide are more prone to develop this problem than others.

Welders are also under the risk of getting this problem if they are not wearing protective welding glasses or helmet.

Symptoms :

The initial symptoms will be repeated eye twitches and continuous watering of eyes. There may or may not be eye pain and sometimes your eyes may become bloodshot due to increased irritation. You will feel as though there are sand particles on your eyes. In rare cases, the eyes may shut down unable to open. It may develop inflammation and irritation which is developed due to the attack of the cornea by strong UV rays. For many people, snow blindness may cause temporary vision loss and in extreme cases there can be permanent loss of vision.

Prevention :

You should carry a pair of sunglasses or glacier goggles while you are planning to travel on high altitudes. Your eyes will be exposed to harsh rays of the sun if you are not wearing any eye protective cover. Make sure that you are using quality sunglasses which are effective to block the UV rays of the sun during intense period of sunlight. One will not sense the presence of sun’s rays while traveling on snow covered peaks or on glaciers. It is better to wear dark polarized glasses for getting improved protection of your eyes.

Alternatively you can also use glacier goggles that are equipped with added features to block UV rays of the sun. You should also know how to make your own sunglasses with the available piece of wood or cardboard for protecting your eyes. Wearing sunglasses is very much essential for people who are planning to spend extended hours on snowy peaks or glacier.

Treatment :

By wearing protective sunglasses and properly covering the eyes, you can prevent snow blindness. This disorder can be treated well if the symptoms are immediately treated. It is essential to carry a pair of sunglasses if you are planning to travel on high altitudes or snowy terrain. In case if you are not having sunglasses, then you can always cover your eyes with dark clothing to prevent the strong UV light of the sun. Do not panic if you experience severe eye twitching and pain. Stay calm and do not rub your eyes which may worsen the condition.

Remove the sunglasses and immediately get back to dark room or tent. Apply eye-drops to reduce inflammation and itchy eyes and cover your eyes with dark clothing. It is necessary to discontinue your travel agenda and seek doctor’s advice at the earliest. You can also apply cool compresses for getting temporary relief from pain and itchy feeling.

Snow Blindness – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Snow Blindness – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

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.

You're reading Snow Blindness – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment posted by minhhai2d, the information is for reference only.

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.