December brings the holiday cheer, the cold weather and, most of all, a lot of snow. Snow can make the scenery glow, and when you live in New England, it makes everything look beautiful. The first snowfall of the year is always highly anticipated. But when it comes to eye safety, be careful when you’re taking in the white wonders of the wintertime. Read this blog to learn about snow, ice, and eye safety.
Snow can be extremely reflective. When the snow and ice reflect UV rays, these easily bounce off and into your eyes. Have you ever considered the risk of getting a ‘sunburn’ in the winter? This is possible!
UV rays reflecting from lighter colors, like the vibrant white color of snow and ice, is very common in the winter. Reflections can be harmful, and may even damage your eyes. It can be especially uncomfortable for young children whose eyes are still in stages of development. During the cold weather, the brutal temperatures can cause irritation and blurry vision when walking or being outside. No matter your age, you need to take precautions.
These are the reasons why we suggest investing in winter eyewear. Goggles, glasses, sunglasses, and polarized lenses can all help in the winter. Especially when you’re participating in outdoor winter sporting events like snowboarding and skiing, don’t forget your goggles! With cold and harsh winds coming at your face at extremely high speeds, you shouldn’t participate in sports without some sort of goggles or glasses. Don’t take the chance of really hurting yourself.
You’ll be grateful for protecting your eyes during the winter. Wintertime eye protection can prevent macular degeneration, cataracts, cancer/growths, irritation, wrinkles from squinting, and eye-watering. UV rays can damage your eyes more than you may think.
Of course, it’s totally fine to be out and about in the winter weather, just make sure you’re taking care of yourself. You wouldn’t want to miss out on your favorite wintertime activities because of blurry vision or irritated eyes.
Do you have questions about eye safety during the wintertime? We can answer your questions, and help you find the perfect eyewear for you this winter. Reach out to Boston Eye Physicians and Surgeons at (617) 232-9600 or visit our website
