Contents:
- Medical Video: Dysfunctional Family Dinner - SNL
- What does it mean by snow blindness?
- Signs and symptoms
- What should be done when experiencing photokeratitis?
- Prevent snow blindness
Medical Video: Dysfunctional Family Dinner - SNL
Want to create a very memorable year-end vacation? Holidays to snowy areas can be one way. It must be very exciting if you can enjoy the atmosphere of the fall of pure white snow. Be careful, white snow can cause you to experience snow blindness, or commonly known as photokeratitis (photo means light and keratitis means inflammation of the cornea). However, don't worry first. Snow blindness can be prevented, how come. See the way below.
What does it mean by snow blindness?
According to AAO (American Academy of Ophthalmology), snow blindess is a form of visual impairment called photokeratitis or ultraviolet keratitis. This condition will generally cause interference with the thin layer on the surface of the eyeball, namely the cornea and conjunctiva. Both are layers of cells that make up the white part of the eye and the inside of the eyelid.
Photokeratitis, according to its name, is a disorder of the eye due to exposure to UV (ultraviolet) light reflected by the surface of water, snow, or ice. This reflection often occurs in altitude areas, coupled with cold and dry weather.
In addition, photokeratitis can also occur if you stare at the sun with the naked eye, for example when watching a solar eclipse without a good eye protection. Witnessing a solar eclipse without protection is dangerous because radiation from the light can damage the retinal layer of the eye. This can cause more serious abnormalities.
In addition, the use of tools that emit artificial UV light such as lights tanning or tanning bed can also be a cause of photokeratitis.
Signs and symptoms
Invisible UV rays often cause us to be unaware of this condition until the appearance of a disturbance occurs, as well sunburn (skin burns due to exposure to UV light that is too high).
The following are symptoms that are often felt in the eyes when they occur snow blindness:
- Pain
- Redness
- The view is blurred 6-12 hours after exposure to light
- Watery eyes constantly
- Something feels blocked
- Swell
- Sensitive to glare
- Headache
- White circles appear and dazzle at sight
- Pupils shrink
- The eyelids twitch
- Vision loss (transient and rare)
The more you are exposed to UV light, the more severe the symptoms will be.
What should be done when experiencing photokeratitis?
Although the symptoms of photokeratitis are quite disturbing and creepy, complaints are usually felt that will improve on their own in one to two days.
If you wear contact lenses, release and rest your eyes until conditions improve. Avoid sunlight and use protective goggles (sunglasses with UV light filters). The use of artificial tears to prevent dry eyes can reduce complaints. Use artificial tears without preservatives (preservative-free formula) to prevent hypersensitivity due to preservatives which can actually worsen vision.
Avoid rubbing your eyes with your hands. It's best to compress your eyes using a cold compress or a wet cloth in a closed eye so you can reduce your complaints. If the pain is quite disturbing, you can use painkillers recommended by your doctor. If the complaint still feels very disturbing after one to two days, there is no harm in checking yourself directly into an ophthalmologist.
Prevent snow blindness
You can prevent this condition by using protective goggles that can dispel 99 percent of UV light every time you move outdoors, especially in snowy areas. Some photochromic lenses that can block sunlight and some other types of lenses that have similar abilities can be used to protect our eyes.
Don't forget, UV light can penetrate clouds so keep using protective goggles even though the sky is cloudy and cloudy. Ask for advice from an optometrist or ophthalmologist for the type of protector you can use if you are still unsure about the choice of lenses available.
