[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":549},["ShallowReactive",2],{"microcopies":3,"page-data-/eye-health/snow-blindness":9},{"of":4,"jumpToSection":5,"home":6,"availableAt":7,"accessedUpdated":8},"of","Jump to section","Home","Available at","Accessed",{"queryData":10,"breadcrumbTrail":548},{"contentPage":11},{"entryTitle":12,"pageTitle":13,"seoMetaData":14,"topSection":18,"bottomSection":25,"anchors":40,"mainSectionCollection":73},"en-GB - Eye health - Snow blindness - Content Page","Snow Blindness (photokeratitis)",{"metaDescription":15,"indexed":16,"follow":16,"metaKeywords":17,"updatedForProjectAlphabet":17},"Snow blindness, also known as photokeratitis is caused by excessive exposure to high UV rays on reflective surfaces like snow.",true,null,{"__typename":19,"sys":20,"button":17,"title":22,"subtitle":17,"theme":23,"heroHeightVersion":24},"HeroBanner",{"id":21},"7keSPhsHoadYWM7szgNZmw","Snow blindness (photokeratitis)","Ellipse","Condensed",{"__typename":26,"sys":27,"title":29,"body":30,"buttonsCollection":31},"FullWidthBannerFooter",{"id":28},"fkTTrqXbtBwlZYYOQQpni","Get expert eye advice","If you’ve noticed a change in your vision, or have experienced any symptoms mentioned above, it’s worth booking an appointment with one of our optometrists.",{"items":32},[33,37],{"linkText":34,"linkUrl":35,"openLinkInANewBrowserTab":36},"Contact your local store","/stores",false,{"linkText":38,"linkUrl":39,"openLinkInANewBrowserTab":36},"See more eye conditions","/eye-health",{"anchorLinksCollection":41},{"items":42},[43,48,53,58,63,68],{"anchorLabel":44,"includeLinkInPageNav":36,"anchorTarget":45},"Summary",{"sys":46},{"id":47},"1lczBfM1MDukT6E4kjOH9H",{"anchorLabel":49,"includeLinkInPageNav":16,"anchorTarget":50},"Symptoms",{"sys":51},{"id":52},"2t1leJONkIRqKXUr9qXXkr",{"anchorLabel":54,"includeLinkInPageNav":16,"anchorTarget":55},"Causes",{"sys":56},{"id":57},"I1kMkcRSNhl3FSvHADsUr",{"anchorLabel":59,"includeLinkInPageNav":16,"anchorTarget":60},"Treatment",{"sys":61},{"id":62},"5YhyJtN1EE0ufoXtl1Inuw",{"anchorLabel":64,"includeLinkInPageNav":16,"anchorTarget":65},"Diagnosis",{"sys":66},{"id":67},"6scj8YtW9tTnmQGcBM9A3G",{"anchorLabel":69,"includeLinkInPageNav":16,"anchorTarget":70},"Prevention",{"sys":71},{"id":72},"2LjacYD4rGl1XJg9Yve3Sw",{"items":74},[75,80,117,287,324,355,438,468,485,522],{"__typename":44,"sys":76,"linkEntries":77,"title":17,"body":79,"leftAligned":17},{"id":47},{"items":78},[],"Snow blindness, or photokeratitis, happens when the eye’s cornea becomes sunburned. Although painful, it is temporary and easily preventable.",{"__typename":81,"sys":82,"theme":84,"genericTextComponent":85},"ContentTypeRichText",{"id":83},"5DbomKWkvyMOU7nffEveiW","Cool Blue",{"json":86,"links":114},{"data":87,"content":88,"nodeType":113},{},[89,98,106],{"data":90,"content":91,"nodeType":97},{},[92],{"data":93,"marks":94,"value":95,"nodeType":96},{},[],"What is snow blindness?","text","heading-2",{"data":99,"content":100,"nodeType":105},{},[101],{"data":102,"marks":103,"value":104,"nodeType":96},{},[],"The medical term for snow blindness is photokeratitis and means inflammation of the cornea.","paragraph",{"data":107,"content":108,"nodeType":105},{},[109],{"data":110,"marks":111,"value":112,"nodeType":96},{},[],"You don’t have to be around snow to get snow blindness, but people who go skiing or snowboarding for example, spend time at high altitudes where UV rays are stronger and are surrounded by snow, which is a highly reflective surface. Without wearing the right sun protection, this can increase the chances of getting photokeratitis. 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Photokeratitis happens when the sensitive surface layer of the cornea becomes inflamed due to an overexposure of UV light.",{"data":308,"content":309,"nodeType":105},{},[310],{"data":311,"marks":312,"value":313,"nodeType":96},{},[],"Harmful UV light can come from the sun, or from artificial light produced in things like tanning beds, sun lamps, lasers, and welding equipment.",{"data":315,"content":316,"nodeType":105},{},[317],{"data":318,"marks":319,"value":320,"nodeType":96},{},[],"People who spend a lot of their time outdoors might be more likely to develop photokeratitis, particularly without wearing sufficient eye protection.",{"entries":322},{"block":323},[],{"__typename":81,"sys":325,"theme":119,"genericTextComponent":327},{"id":326},"3qxSPgSK1TFKbJX4wGPoSD",{"json":328,"links":352},{"data":329,"content":330,"nodeType":113},{},[331,338,345],{"data":332,"content":333,"nodeType":97},{},[334],{"data":335,"marks":336,"value":337,"nodeType":96},{},[],"How long do the symptoms last?",{"data":339,"content":340,"nodeType":105},{},[341],{"data":342,"marks":343,"value":344,"nodeType":96},{},[],"In a similar way to when your skin is sunburned, you might only notice snow blindness symptoms a few hours after you’ve been in the sun. Symptoms can seem quite alarming, but they should go away on their own after 24-48 hours, after which your eyes will be back to normal.",{"data":346,"content":347,"nodeType":105},{},[348],{"data":349,"marks":350,"value":351,"nodeType":96},{},[],"If you’re concerned about your symptoms, you should see your optometrist to examine your eyes and look out for signs of other potential eye conditions.",{"entries":353},{"block":354},[],{"__typename":81,"sys":356,"theme":84,"genericTextComponent":357},{"id":62},{"json":358,"links":435},{"data":359,"content":360,"nodeType":113},{},[361,368,375,428],{"data":362,"content":363,"nodeType":97},{},[364],{"data":365,"marks":366,"value":367,"nodeType":96},{},[],"Snow blindness treatment",{"data":369,"content":370,"nodeType":105},{},[371],{"data":372,"marks":373,"value":374,"nodeType":96},{},[],"Snow blindness treatment involves staying inside and giving your eyes plenty of rest. 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Your symptoms may be an indication of a different eye condition.",{"entries":436},{"block":437},[],{"__typename":81,"sys":439,"theme":119,"genericTextComponent":440},{"id":67},{"json":441,"links":465},{"data":442,"content":443,"nodeType":113},{},[444,451,458],{"data":445,"content":446,"nodeType":97},{},[447],{"data":448,"marks":449,"value":450,"nodeType":96},{},[],"How is snow blindness (photokeratitis) diagnosed?",{"data":452,"content":453,"nodeType":105},{},[454],{"data":455,"marks":456,"value":457,"nodeType":96},{},[],"Recent history of excessive exposure to UV, either from the sun or artificial sources, combined with corneal swelling seen on examination, is usually enough to diagnose photokeratitis.",{"data":459,"content":460,"nodeType":105},{},[461],{"data":462,"marks":463,"value":464,"nodeType":96},{},[],"Eyecare professionals such as optometrists, ophthalmic nurses and ophthalmologists are in the best position to make this diagnosis and to rule out other problems.",{"entries":466},{"block":467},[],{"__typename":469,"sys":470,"imageDesktop":17,"title":472,"body":473,"imageAltText":474,"theme":475,"imageMobileTablet":476,"buttonsCollection":478},"SplitBanner",{"id":471},"38j6aHeXpI7rxrpQdxvYXn","Eye health and conditions","View a range of eye conditions and vision problems alongside helpful information about their symptoms & treatment.","Women using a slit lamp","Aloe Green",{"url":477},"https://images.ctfassets.net/zcryw81f0g1x/4cwFJgHB9BHy1B690ebBQ0/c02de50880709bc238812946c93ccfea/DAY_2_SLIT_LAMP_TEST_117-150DPI.jpg",{"items":479},[480,482],{"linkText":481,"linkUrl":39,"openLinkInANewBrowserTab":36},"View all eye conditions",{"linkText":483,"linkUrl":484,"openLinkInANewBrowserTab":36},"Book an appointment","/book/location",{"__typename":81,"sys":486,"theme":84,"genericTextComponent":487},{"id":72},{"json":488,"links":519},{"data":489,"content":490,"nodeType":113},{},[491,498,505,512],{"data":492,"content":493,"nodeType":97},{},[494],{"data":495,"marks":496,"value":497,"nodeType":96},{},[],"How to prevent and avoid snow blindness",{"data":499,"content":500,"nodeType":105},{},[501],{"data":502,"marks":503,"value":504,"nodeType":96},{},[],"The good news is that snow blindness can be prevented very easily and wearing proper eye protection is all it takes to avoid snow blindness.",{"data":506,"content":507,"nodeType":105},{},[508],{"data":509,"marks":510,"value":511,"nodeType":96},{},[],"Be mindful that it doesn’t have to be clear skies and bright sunshine for your eyes to be affected by UV rays, so it’s important that you wear eye protection if you’re outdoors for a long period of time. 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