How to Treat Snow Blindness

Snow blindness occurs when someone's eyes are subjected to ultraviolet ray (UV Ray) without the protection of sunglasses. It is caused by the glaring reflection of the bright sunshine on the snow or ice. This light reflects into the eyes and causing the cornea and conjunctiva of the eye to burn, much like a sunburn.

Things You'll Need

• Eye pads made of soft fabric or gauze
• Cool water
• Pain relievers
• UV protection sunglasses

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Instructions

• 1

  Know the facts about snow blindness or niphablepsia. There is usually a temporary loss of vision and pain that can range from discomforting to excruciating. It generally causes inflammation, redness and watering of the eyes. Most people also report feeling that they have grit in their eyes and some people's eyes become completely closed due to swelling. In it's worst form, usually only after repeated unprotected exposure to the UV rays, prolonged exposed can cause solar retinopathy which will result in varying degrees of permanent vision loss.

• 2

  Realize that the symptoms of snow blindness may not be felt for several hours after being exposed to the sun's glare. Snow blindness also can occur on even the most overcast of days. It is especially dangerous to be outside in the snow without eye protection when it is overcast because you may not realize that the sun is still able to damage your eyes. If you are going to be in the snow for any length of time, you need to wear sunglasses that offer protection from UV rays.

• 3

  Be prepared by having sunglasses that cover the whole eye from the sides to the nose and from above the eyebrow to well below the bottom like. Wrap around styles or goggles are the best styles to choose. Buy those that offer 99-100% UV ray protection and a 5-10% light transmission visibility. This can go a very long way to helping you avoid snow blindness. If you know ahead of time that you'll spend time outside in the snow you can get some eye drops or ointment made especially for snow blindness from your physician.

• 4

  Take care of yourself. If you feel you need to see a doctor, go right away. If it isn't that severe, get inside and stay there, resting until you feel better. Take out contacts if you wear them and cover your eyes with gauze bandages or anything that is soft and thick like a few layers of soft flannel so that your eyelids moving around won't further irritate your eyes. You can use cold wet compresses on the eyelids to ease the pain and the sense of burning. Use the snow blindness drops from the doctor as he directs you, if you do think and office visit is in order,

• 5

  Take an over the counter pain reliever such as aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Lay down or sit comfortably and rest in a darkened room. Remove the pads from your eyes about every four hours and see how your eyes are doing. You need to see a doctor if there is no improvement by the next day or within twelve hours. You should feel a slight improvement from the cool cloths and the pain reliever, but if it really isn't better you need to go an see your doctor. Keep your dark sunglasses on whenever you leave the house to go anywhere until all the eye pain has gone.

• 6

  Remember that prevention is always the best cure for anything. Keep your sunglasses on - especially when you don't see the sun. UV rays penetrate cloud cover easily.