Most people associate ultraviolet radiation with the summer season and intense sunlight.
However, this is a misconception and needs to be clarified. It should be made clear that protection from UV radiation is necessary all 12 months of the year.
The reduced amount of sunlight in winter does not mean there is no dangerous radiation.
Mountain skiing has been an extremely popular sport in Greece over the past few decades. However, while skiing is beneficial for vision since it allows the eye to focus on the distance, it poses serious risks when proper precautions are not taken. Skiing in the mountains is much more dangerous for our eyesight than water skiing. Ozone in the atmosphere absorbs some of the ultraviolet radiation, but the thinning of the ozone layer means that ultraviolet rays are causing more and more problems.
So what should we keep in mind when taking up this popular sport?;
Most people, especially in the summer, focus on choosing the right pair of authentic sunglasses. But how many of us are interested in buying ski goggles that meet all the necessary standards? Do we just choose them at random, based on appearance rather than the lenses’ performance?;
Ultraviolet rays come from the Sun's energy and are invisible to the human eye, which can see only certain types of light. There are three types of rays: UVA, UVB, and UVC. Of the ultraviolet spectrum, we are concerned with UVA (the “A” stands for “aging”) and UVB (the “B” stands for “burning”) penetrate the ozone layer and the atmosphere and reach us.
UVB rays are responsible for causing sunburn and can easily burn the cornea. In addition to direct radiation, there is also indirect radiation reflected by snow. The percentage of UV radiation reflected by snow reaches 80%, while at the sea surface it is only 10%. This demonstrates that skiing in the mountains is more dangerous to our eyesight than skiing at the beach. Ozone in the atmosphere absorbs some of the ultraviolet radiation, but the thinning of the ozone layer (approximately 3-8% per decade) means that ultraviolet rays are causing more and more problems.
Unprotected exposure to sunlight without wearing appropriate sunglasses can cause:
- Irritation and hyperemia in the conjunctival area.
- Pain caused by sloughing of the corneal epithelium and resulting in keratitis (a corneal ulcer).
- Tab Display
- Burn on the eyelids
- Accelerated hardening of the eye's lens, known as a cataract
- Causes degenerative changes in the retina.
- Burns to the macula and loss of central vision.
But are there some groups of skiers who are more susceptible?;
– Children, because they have an extremely sensitive visual system that is still developing and maturing. In young children, due to the exceptional clarity of the cornea and the lens, allows a large percentage of light to pass through into the interior of the eye and reach the retina; furthermore, their melanin (a pigment comparable to the melanin in the skin) is present at lower levels than in adults. In addition, because of their height, children’s eyes are much closer to the surface of the snow. As a result, they receive and absorb more radiation through reflection than adults, who are significantly taller.
- – People who take medications such as:
Tetracycline or doxycycline antibiotics, antihistamines, contraceptives, and sleeping pills. - People undergoing photochemotherapy, that is, people with skin conditions.
- People who have undergone photodynamic therapy for exudative macular degeneration.
These substances sensitize the body to the effects of ultraviolet radiation (photosensitive).
If a skier has a vision problem, such as nearsightedness, hyperopia, or astigmatism, and wears glasses in their daily life, they should choose ski goggles with two separate lenses for each eye rather than a full-face mask. This way, they can incorporate their refractive correction into their ski goggles, which is likely to be different for each eye. They should request a filter for these corrective lenses to improve their perception of bright contrasts.
Horizontal rays reflected off flat, smooth surfaces, such as snow, cause glare. The image we see when ski goggles aren’t equipped with the right lenses can be compared to an overexposed photograph, which reduces color perception and contrast. With polarized lenses, objects are rendered with great clarity and colors appear natural.
If, on the other hand, the skier does not wear glasses but wears contact lenses to correct refractive errors—even if the lenses have a UV filter— they must wear ski goggles or a ski mask. The lenses of ski goggles must be made of plastic that is scratch- and impact-resistant and must not restrict the field of vision. Ventilation channels should allow for air circulation to prevent the lenses from fogging up, keep the eyes from drying out, and prevent watery eyes.
Finally, all ski goggles and masks must bear the CE mark, which means they meet the requirements of European standards and reduce the transmission of ultraviolet radiation relative to visible light.
