Preventing Snow Blindness
While most people have sunglasses high on their packing list for a tropical vacation, many people don’t consider it as much of a priority for colder climate getaways. But they should, and here’s why:
Wintertime vacations often include activities that involve snow and ice and in general, conditions that can lead to overexposure to UV rays from the sun. Without proper eye protection, this can lead to photokeratitis or snow blindness, a condition that results in pain and temporary vision loss.
Photokeratitis is essentially a sunburn on the eye which occurs when the eye is exposed to invisible ultraviolet or UV rays, from the sun or other sources such as sunlamps or tanning beds. It mainly affects the cornea, the curved outermost surface of the eye that plays a role in your ability to focus, and the conjunctiva, the membrane that covers the front of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelid. It causes inflammation, pain and sometimes a temporary loss of vision.
Despite its name, snow blindness doesn’t occur exclusively in the snow. It can happen in any environment in which UV rays are strongly reflected including water, sand or ice as well. It is also more common in high altitudes where the sun’s ultraviolet rays are stronger and the air is thinner, which is why skiing and mountain climbing can even be riskier than summertime activities on a lower altitude. Snow and ice reflect more UV light than almost any other surface, but you don’t always feel or notice the strong glare, making snow blindness a silent winter hazard that can only be prevented by awareness.
Symptoms of Snow Blindness
Unfortunately, just like any sunburn, you usually don’t notice the symptoms of snow blindness until the damage has already been done. Symptoms usually occur several hours after the activity, so one may not realize that they were caused from snow blindness. Symptoms include:- Pain
- Burning
- Redness
- Grittiness
- Tearing
- Light Sensitivity
- Glare or Halos
- Blurry Vision
- Watery Eyes
- Swollen Eyes or Eyelids
- Headaches
- Temporary Vision Loss
How Is Snow Blindness Treated?
There is little to do to treat photokeratitis. Just like a sunburn elsewhere on the body, it eventually heals on its own. There are however, some steps you can take to find relief from the symptoms which include:- Stay indoors, in a dark area until the eyes become less sensitive.
- Wear sunglasses if it helps.
- Avoid rubbing your eyes.
- Remove contact lenses.
- Apply preservative-free artificial tears to add moisture.
- Use a cold compress to soothe your eyes.
- Try over-the-counter pain relief or antibiotic eye drops according to your eye doctor’s advice.
Tips to Prevent Snow Blindness
Snow blindness is actually very preventable and all it takes is a good pair of sunglasses or sports goggles. Any time you are outside, rain or shine, you should wear 100% UV blocking sunglasses. That’s right, the sun’s powerful UV rays can even penetrate clouds on an overcast day. If you are involved in sports such as skiing, snowboarding, mountain climbing or water activities consider a pair of wrap-around sunglasses or sports goggles with shields to prevent the rays from entering from above and through the sides. Wearing a hat or helmet with a brim will also help to increase protection. Whether you are going North, South or somewhere in between, make sure to pack your shades and protect your eyes so you have an eye-safe, fun and enjoyable vacation.New Tampa
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True Eye Experts Trinity
2740 Seven Springs Blvd,
New Port Richey, FL 34655
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I had an emergency and needed to be seen as soon as possible. They fit me in right away and got my injury addressed and on the road to recovery! The staff is so professional and caring! Everyone had a smile on their faces & was welcoming. Thank you so very much for everything!
HIGHLY Recommend
I worked for eye doctors for over 20 years, so I know a good practice when I see one. I HIGHLY recommend Dr Samuel Teske and The Eye Doctors of Trinity ! His staff is kind, helpful and knowledgeable. Dr Teske is one of the best Optometric Physicians I have encountered. Know you are in great hands with The Eye Doctors of Trinity!
Awesome!
Both my daughter and I visit Dr. Teske at The Eye Doctors. Dr. Teske and all his staff are awesome! Very knowledgeable and pleasant to deal with. Dr. Teske is great with children – my daughter first saw him when she was 8 and she liked him right away. He explains everything very thoroughly and is clearly excited about helping people with their vision. Definitely recommend!
Great Office!
Best personal service and Dr. Teske designs your prescription around your daily work obligations or personal habits so to speak! My glasses are amazing and I can see at every angle! Highly recommend!! Great office!
Impressive Technology
Highly recommend this place. The staff was very friendly and the doctor made it very easy to understand the results. One thing I will say that really impressed me was their technology. They had a few machines I hadn’t seen before that helped with catching a mistake my previous doctor made.
Professional
Highly recommend this place. My entire family go there for our yearly exams. They entire stuff are super professional.
Dr Teske actually takes the time to listen to you
“Dr Teske actually takes the time to listen to your needs and concerns. His office has a great selection of frames to choose from. Definitely go there if you need a smaller frame or have trouble with finding the right contacts!”
Dr. Teske is an outstanding doctor
“Dr. Teske is an outstanding doctor with an excellent staff. I have tried for years to wear contacts but was unsuccessful until I found Dr. Teske and staff. They were very patient and spent two hours training me and several weeks trying various brands and prescriptions until we found what works best for me. They are all extremely friendly and professional and provide excellent service. Their rates are also very reasonable. I highly recommend them.”
Dr. Teske is the BEST optometrist in Tampa
“Dr. Teske is the BEST optometrist in Tampa I have ever been to. I read the great reviews before my appointment and was not disappointed. I had been having many problems trying to get the correct prescription and now I can see again! Dr. Teske takes the time to explain everything to you and is not happy unless you are happy. He also considers your problem and situation thoughtfully and actively tries to find a solution. The office staff is also very friendly and helpful. I can’t say enough good things about Dr. Teske and his staff. Five stars all the way!! Pros: Excellent and intelligent doctor, convenient office hours Cons: NONE”
He is the best Eye doctor in Tampa!!
“He is the best Eye doctor in Tampa!! I have been to alot of diffrent places and for the first time ever I found a doctor that gave me the right rx order for my eyes and also explained everything in details and concerns with my eyes. He showed that he cared and this is actually the 2nd year me going to him! I highly recommend doctor! His staff is great!”
I went there recently to look for eye glasses
“I went there recently to look for eye glasses after i visited another eye doctor in Tampa. Their selection was great for me since I have a smaller face that none of the eye glasses at other places seemed to fit. The staff is very friendly and helpful. My husband actually had his eye exam there and I was quite impressed with Dr Teske. He took the time to explain things to my husband and even showed us the digital retina picture; explained what diseased eyes look like and showed us how my husband’s eyes are just fine.”
Rick & Penny B.
“Rick & Penny B. It’s not often my wife and I take the time to rate service providers on the Web but in this case we are compelled to do so as we had the good fortune of being introduced to Dr. Teske and his staff. The Doctor is by far the finest medical professional we have ever been involved with. The care, concern, and kindness he has shown both of us are beyond what would normally be expected. He takes the time to carefully listen and answers any questions and worries that you may have. He has improved my wife’s vision through careful examinations and suggestions and we would highly recommend him for your vision needs.”
Very professional and most complete eye exam
“Very professional and most complete eye exam I’ve ever had Dr. Teske is very professional and personable. He and his staff make you feel right and home and they provided the most complete eye exam that I’ve ever had. I would highly recommend him to anybody and have recommended him to several people already looking for a caring eye doctor in Tampa.”
Wonderful eye doc! Really goes the extra mile.
“Wonderful eye doc! Really goes the extra mile. I got acid in my eye and came into the office. Dr Teske saw me immediately, treated me like a long-standing patient despite me just basically coming in off the street, made me feel at ease and was just a great all-around professional and nice guy. My eye is back to 100% and I’m extremely grateful for what he did. The office staff were also very nice and helpful. If any of my family needs an optometrist in the future, we will definitely be going back. He even gave me his personal cell number and told me to call him any time if I had any concerns. You can’t beat that level of care and service! Absolutely first rate!!”
I originally came to see Dr. Teske because…
I originally came to see Dr. Teske because he was close and convenient when I lived in New Tampa. Now, I will not trust my sight to anyone else in Tampa. I used to drive from Kissimmee to see Giancomo Guggino and now I drive from Oldsmar to see Dr. Teske. His office staff is professional, well trained and he will provide you with some of the most thorough and well explained eye-care you could receive. I received Lasik by Probst @ TLC at his recommendation, and it has changed my life. I recommend Dr. Teske to all of my friends in the bay.
Very Thorough Exam!
I had a complete very thorough exam and even though I was late to my appointment I didn’t feel rush. They even took pictures of my eyeballs, I’ve never had that done. They screened me for glaucoma and even made sure my contacts fit properly. The Dr. gave me a trial pair of contacts to try out until I was ready to buy. The staff was extremely friendly and answered all my questions. I would definitely be going back
So Professional!
I used to think that the “sand” –that feeling that there was sand in my eyes– was “normal” until I found out that it had a name’ “Blepharitis” and that treating it was an easy and painless process. The best part was the treatment and care I received from Mai Tran at the Eye Doctors in New Tampa. She was so professional, polite, patient, and encouraging during the entire process. I am now “sand” free and my eyes feel great. I highly recommend the team at the Eye Doctors at New Tampa and am very thankful to Mai for the excellent care I receive.
Best experience I have ever had at an eye doctor!
The best experience I have ever had at an eye doctor. They were able to get me in on time, proceeded with my exam and the doctor was very professional and explained everything to me in detail. Once it was time to find my glasses, I searched a while and collected a pile when the gentleman became available he told me to bring all my glasses to his table. He then asked me a few questions then created his own pile of glasses for me. After 2 1/2 hours of him patiently working through eye and sunglasses we founded the perfect pairs for me. He was very honest and explained his likes and dislikes. I will recommend this office to everyone I came across who is in need of a vision check up and or lenses!!!! Thank you for all your time and patience!
Great experience!
I’ve had 3 exams here and had a great experience each time. The staff and doctors are friendly and knowledgeable- they want you to be as healthy and comfortable as possible. They are a bit pricier, but it’s completely worth it as both the service and product match the price. I look forward to getting my next pair of glasses here.
We wouldn’t change for the world!
My wife and I have been patients of Dr. Teske for the past 11 yrs. We wouldn’t change for the world. Each time we go there it feels as if we are visiting family. Everyone is so personable, and professional. Dr. Teske always remembers us and our adventures and gives us very professional and caring advise after our exams.
