What is Photokeratitis — Including Snow Blindness?

Posted by: Pepose Vision Institute in Eye Care on February 22, 2016

This time of year a lot of us head to the mountains to ski and snowboard.  If you do go, please protect your eyes, and those of your family.

Photokeratitis is a painful eye condition that occurs when your eye is exposed to invisible rays of energy called ultraviolet (UV) rays, either from the sun or from a man-made source.

Photokeratitis is like having a sunburned eye. This condition affects the thin surface layer of the cornea — the clear front window of the eye — and the conjunctiva, which is the cell layer covering the inside of the eyelids and the whites of the eye.

Photokeratitis causes
Photokeratitis is caused by damage to the eye from ultraviolet (UV) rays. Sunlight is the main source of natural UV rays.

Photokeratitis can be caused by sun reflection from sand, water, ice and snow. It can also happen if you stare at the sun, such as watching a solar eclipse directly without using a special device. A solar eclipse can also cause a burn to the retina, which is long lasting and more serious than temporary corneal damage.

There are also many man-made sources of ultraviolet light, including tanning lamps and tanning beds, as well as arc welding.

Wearing proper eye protection can prevent damage to the eyes from UV rays.

Snow blindness: a common form of photokeratitis
Snow blindness is a form of photokeratitis that is caused by UV rays reflected off ice and snow. Eye damage from UV rays is particularly common in the North and South Pole areas or in high mountains where the air is thinner and provides less protection from UV rays.

Snow blindness may also refer to freezing of the cornea’s surface, as well as severe drying of the corneal surface due to extremely dry air. Skiing, snowmobiling and mountain climbing are activities commonly associated with this condition.

Photokeratitis symptoms
Like a sunburn on your skin, photokeratitis is not usually noticed until well after the damage has occurred. Symptoms include:

• Pain
• Redness
• Blurriness
• Tearing
• Gritty feeling
• Swelling
• Sensitivity to bright light
• Headache
• Seeing halos
• Small pupils
• Eyelid twitching
• Rarely, temporary vision loss
• In rare cases, you may also experience temporary color changes in your vision.

The longer you are exposed to UV rays, the more severe your symptoms will be.

Photokeratitis diagnosis
We can diagnose photokeratitis by asking about your recent activities, examining yours eyes, and using an eyedrop with fluorescein dye to look for UV damage.

Photokeratitis treatment
Photokeratitis and snow blindness usually go away on their own, so treatment is focused on making you feel better as your eyes heal.

If you wear contact lenses, remove them immediately. Get out of the sun and into a dark room. For relief, you may try:

• Placing a cold washcloth over your closed eyes
• Using artificial tears
• Taking certain pain relievers as recommended by your ophthalmologist
• Using eyedrop antibiotics if your ophthalmologist recommends this

Avoid rubbing your eyes as you heal.  Symptoms usually go away gradually in a day or two.

Photokeratitis prevention
Photokeratitis may be prevented by wearing eye protection that blocks UV radiation. This includes:

Sunglasses that block or absorb 99 percent and higher of UV rays
Snow goggles designed to block UV rays

We have a great selection of sunglasses that will not only protect your eyes, but also look great. Please visit our optical center. Or as your doctor at your next appointment for a recommendation.