Protecting your Eyes

Protecting your Eyes from the Elements
By Eric Donnenfeld, MD

It's not just your knees, butt, and head that you should protect when you ride.

Your eyes can take a beating too!

Eyes can get very dry snowboarding in wind, low humidity and high altitude. Contact lens use compounds the problem. And too much sun reflecting off snow can make you temporarily "snow blind." Here are the obstacles, and how to surmount them, thanks to ophthalmologist Dr. Eric Donnenfeld.

Problem:

Dry eye: Outdoor enthusiasts such as snowboarders cannot wait for winter to arrive each year. For them, it means speeding down the slopes. However, winter¹s cold winds and dry air often irritate the eyes, even in warmer climates. These harsh conditions cause eyes to be consistently dry and irritated, especially for people with contact lenses.

Solution

Artificial Tears: Having artificial tears on hand can help relieve the pain associated with dry, red and irritated eyes. It is important to choose tears that do not contain vasoconstrictors (like Visine) which constrict blood flow to the eyes and cause rebound redness. Choose saline brands such as Refresh tears, because products such as Visine enhance the problem rather than solve it.

Problem:

Eye Burn: Outdoor lovers may not realize that they spend long periods of time in intense reflected sunlight. Overexposure to the sun¹s powerful ultraviolet rays without the necessary eye protection can temporarily harm the eyes or even cause photokeratitis, a condition where sensitive tissues of the eyeball are burned. Although this condition may heal in time, the best way to prevent it is to avoid excess UV ray exposure.

Solution:

Wear sunglasses or snow goggles: Sunglasses which block 85 to 90 percent of visible light can protect eyes in all sunny weather conditions. Ski/snowboard goggles, which cover the eyes and the surrounding skin, are another good option. Goggles work great for snowboarders because they block harmful sunlight while preventing debris and snow from blowing into the eyes. (Editor's note - goggles provide some protection to your eyes and cheeks in case of a "face plant" too.)

Author Details:
Dr. Eric Donnenfeld is recognized as one of the leading refractive surgeons in the United States. He is a Board Certified Ophthalmologist with more than 10 years of experience in laser vision correction including LASIK and PRK; twice as long as any other doctor on Long Island. Dr. Donnenfeld graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College. He received his Medical degree from Dartmouth Medical School, graduating in the top five percent of his class. After completing his Ophthalmology Residency at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, where he served as Chief Resident, Dr. Donnenfeld completed a fellowship in disease, treatment, and surgery of the cornea at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia.
He practices in Rockville Centre, on Long Island, in New York State.

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