SNOW BLINDNESS is real!
Photokeratitis or ultraviolet keratitis is a painful eye condition caused by excessive exposure to the ultraviolet (UV) rays from either natural or artificial sources. Photokeratitis is like a sunburn on the front part of the eye, affecting the cornea and conjuntiva. It is not usually noticed until several hours after exposure. The main symptom of snow blindness include tears, feeling of grittiness in addition to pain in the eyes. The injury may be prevented by wearing eye protection that blocks most of the ultraviolet radiation, such as welding goggles with the proper filters, a welder's helmet, sunglasses rated for sufficient UV protection, or appropriate snow goggles. The condition is usually managed by removal from the source of ultraviolet radiation, covering the corneas, artificial tears and administration of pain relief. The corneas typically heal in 12 to 48 hours, and though painful, photokeratitis rarely results in permanent eye damage. Photokeratitis is known by a number of different terms including: snow blindness, arc eye, welder's flash, bake eyes, corneal flash burns or flash burns.
Better Vision Optometric Center, P.A.
910-323-3698 Owen Drive location
910-488-0211 Ramsey Street location
