Snow is here and many of you are off to winter sports to enjoy the fresh mountain air. We pack warm clothes, ski equipment, total sunblock, and often forget that it is also very important to protect our eyes.
- Optimal eye protection:
We need to protect our eyes from wind, snow, ice, etc., but especially from sunlight, which, in the mountains, has more significant harmful effects due to altitude. As altitude increases, the atmosphere attenuates the sun's rays less. Therefore, the higher we are, the more dangerous the sun is. Just by rising 300 meters above sea level, we already increase the risk of solar radiation by 5%.
We must also take into account that if we are in a snowy environment, there will be a mirror effect, reflecting up to 80% of the sunlight back into our eyes: this is glare.
If we do not use a mask suitable for the mountains, our eyes may suffer from dryness due to wind, ulcers, solar keratitis, photophobia problems, conjunctivitis, and also long-term cataract problems, macular degeneration.
- How to choose the right sun protection:
When choosing sun protection for high mountains, we must consider various elements for suitable lenses:
• They must be category 3 or 4 filters.
• They must filter 100% of ultraviolet rays.
• They can be polarized to protect us from annoying reflections and glare, depending on the activity we are doing.
• They must be comfortable and fit perfectly to the face like ski goggles.
• The lenses must be unbreakable; choose organic, secured mineral (or tempered glass like Vuarnet sunglasses) or polycarbonate lenses.
For those with myopia, astigmatism, hyperopia, or presbyopia who want corrective sunglasses, it's possible. And if you have any questions or need help, don't hesitate to ask for advice!
