SUNDAY, Feb. 8, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- Choosing the right sunglasses or goggles is as important to your health and safety while skiing as having the proper skis, bindings and clothing.
Intense sunlight, ultraviolet radiation (UV) and highly reflective snow can cause or contribute to serious eye problems. If you don't protect your eyes while skiing, you can suffer snow blindness or increase your chances of long-term eye damage and conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration, says the British Columbia Association of Optometrists.
They recommend you buy ski goggles or sunglasses that screen 99 percent to 100 percent of UV. When shopping, look for labels on sunglasses and goggles that tell you the type and amount of UV protection they offer.
Goggles and sunglasses should fit properly, and they should be made of shatterproof polycarbonate. Different tints are designed to match specific weather conditions to help you see better. Gray is a good all-purpose tint.
On hazy days, you can use cinnamon or amber tints. Yellow or vermilion tints are well-suited for foggy conditions. You can buy goggles with interchangeable lenses that let you easily adapt to changing weather.
Just because it's cloudy, don't be fooled into thinking that you don't have to wear proper eye protection. Clouds don't block dangerous UV radiation.
More information
To learn more about eye-related UV dangers and protection, go to Prevent Blindness America.
