Saving Your Eyes in Snow Season

January 14, 2011, 1:15 pm
Saving Your Eyes in Snow Season
By KAREN BARROW
A consumer checks his look as he tries out a pair of sunglasses in Manhattan. Ophthalmologists agree that the ultraviolet protection matters more.Mary Altaffer/Associated Press A consumer checks his look as he tries out a pair of sunglasses in Manhattan. Ophthalmologists agree that the ultraviolet protection matters more.

Did you know that spending a day in the snow can be harder on your eyes than a day at the beach? As Lesley Alderman reports in this week’s Patient Money column, snow reflects nearly 80 percent of the sun’s rays. That means more harmful ultraviolet rays are directed into your eyes.

Winter or summer, hours of bright sunlight can burn the surface of the eye, causing a temporary but painful condition known as photokeratitis. Over time, unprotected exposure can contribute to cataracts, as well as cancer of the eyelids and the skin around the eyes.

UV exposure also may increase the risk of macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in people over age 65. While cataracts can be removed surgically, there is no way to reverse damage to the macula, the area in the center of the retina.

To protect your eyes, it is important to wear sunglasses that block out harmful UV light. Grab your summer shades out of the drawer, and learn more about how to protect your eyes against winter glare by reading the full column, “Let the Sunshine In, But Not the Harmful Rays.” Then please join the discussion below.