is a painful condition, typically a
Keratitis , caused by exposure of unprotected
Eye s to
Sunlight Reflected from
Snow . This is especially a problem at high altitude and polar regions.
The problem is also related to the condition
Arc Eye sometimes experienced by
Welder s.
Snow blindness does not usually cause permanent vision loss. Resting the eyes in a dark room for several days will cause the pain and symptoms to disappear.
The
Inuit carved
Goggles from
Caribou Antler to help prevent snow blindness. The goggles were curved to fit the users face and had a large groove cut in the back to allow for the nose. A long thin slit was cut through the goggles to allow in a small amount of light. The goggles were held to the head by a cord made of caribou
Sinew .
When trekking or mountaineering, sunglasses that offer the following are frequently recommended:
- 99-100% UV absorption
- Polycarbonate or CR-39 lens (lighter, more comfortable than glass)
- 5-10% visible light transmittance
- Large lenses that fit close to the face
- Wraparound or side-shielded to prevent incidental light exposure
