Specsavers Opticians advises winter sports enthusiasts on eyecare

(PRWEB UK) 24 January 2012

Specsavers Opticians are reminding winter sports travellers to safeguard their sight against the alpine sun with the advise that not all sunglasses or ski goggles offer you adequate protection.

Excessive exposure to UV rays on high altitude slopes can trigger a painful irritation to the cornea, at the front of the eye. Photokeratitis, a form of sunburn more commonly recognized as snow blindness, can lead to age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and even ocular tumours.

Paul Carroll, director of professional services at Specsavers Opticians, says: Rays on the piste are heightened by glare, which occurs when light is intensified as it reflects off the vivid, shiny surface of the snow. A sandy beach or calm sea will have the exact same effect. So if your sunglasses or goggles do not offer sufficient protection, your eyes will be exposed to more UV than usual and will suffer far more harm. Excessive exposure can lead to optical well being issues.

As properly as causing damage to the eyes, sunlight also ages the skin around them. The natural reaction to bright sunlight is to screw up the eyes, straining the surrounding facial muscles. This causes temporary crows feet which turn into permanent as soon as the skins elastin fibres grow to be damaged by exposure to UV rays.

Specsavers delivers winter sun eyecare tips for sports enthusiasts skiing and snowboarding: