Snow Blindness is the reflection of harmful solar radiation from the bright ground in the snowy land, causing damage to the retinal layer of the eye. Just as the sun's radiation burns your bare skin, it also damages the retina of your eye in the same way. Wearing suitable, quality glasses on snowy terrain, on sunny or cloudy days will end this problem before it starts. In short, snow blindness is a natural hazard that can be avoided very simply. Although snow blindness is generally known as a temporary damage, it can also cause permanent damage. The severity of the damage increases as the altitude increases, the atmosphere thinner, and the less UV (ultraviolet) radiation of the sun is filtered out. Since these radiations pass through clouds and fog without diminishing their effect, goggles should be worn whenever there is daylight, including overcast weather.
The person who is snowblind is initially disturbed by itching and burning sensation as if 'sand has escaped' in his eyes, then a severe pain and tearing occurs with a state of severe edema and closure in the eyes. The person becomes too sensitive to look around in normal daylight. In this case, the injured should be taken to a closed place and rest, his eyes should not be exposed to light and should be completely covered with a bandage for at least a few days. The patient can be given pain relief and, if possible, anti-inflammatory eye drops. In an average of two days, the symptoms decrease and the injured return to normal. In this case, he should return to civilization as soon as possible and have his injured eyes checked by a medical institution. Although it is said that there is temporary damage, there have been people who lost most of their visual performance due to snow blindness.
Even wearing regular, clear glasses is much more protective than looking at snow with the naked eye, because clear glass filters out harmful UV (ultraviolet) rays. In emergencies such as loss or breakage of glasses in nature, painting the lower and surrounding areas of the eye with a black paint (soot, burnt rubber, etc.) that will minimize reflection, or use a board, cardboard, etc. Don't forget the options of making two thin grooves on a plate and using it for glasses.
