Many people count skiing among their hobbies, but did you know it can damage your vision? It is not the act of skiing that is dangerous to your eyes, but rather the sunlight reflected by the snow. It is the ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which is an integral part of the reflected sunlight, which has been linked to different forms of eye damage, such as cataracts and macular degeneration.
The good news is that you can use skiing goggles to block out most of the harmful rays. Since this is only possible if you have the right goggles, use the following tips when choosing your goggles.
Go Easy On the Tint
Skiing goggles, just like other glasses, come in different tints. Many people view these tints as fashion statements. Unfortunately, different tints have different abilities of blocking harmful rays of the sun. Therefore, if you choose ski goggles based on how closely the color matches your shoes, you can end up with the wrong goggles. Don't do that; instead, talk to an optician or optometrist to help you chose the right goggles depending on the skiing conditions you are targeting. Ideally, you should get goggles with interchangeable lenses or buy different goggles with different lenses so that you can always have the right one depending on the situation (for example, cloudy or sunny days).
Choose the Right Lens Shape
There are two basic types of lenses – cylindrical and spherical lenses. Both lenses have their advantages, but it seems that the cylindrical lenses have an edge over the spherical counterparts. For example, goggles with cylindrical lenses:
Make Sure the Lens Is Properly Ventilated
Even if you have the right tint and less, your goggles will quickly become ineffective if they don't have proper ventilation. Inadequate ventilation will cause your goggles to cloud up fast, blocking your vision and increasing your risk of injuries. Buy goggles with vents that won't be blocked during use; otherwise, the vents won't help you much.
Make Sure They Fit You
Lastly, you should check the fit of the goggles; even the best ski goggles in the world will be useless (for you) if they don't fit properly. The fit is generally determined by the frames; no guesswork is needed here, try the goggles before purchase. This will help you to steer away from goggles that will fall off your face or pinch the bridge of your nose.
In some cases, the eye discomfort you may have during skiing may be due to eye problems instead of the glare of sunlight from the snow. Therefore, don't rush into getting over-the-counter glasses before having your eyes checked by an eye doctor.
Share6 September 2018
I began wearing eyeglasses at a young age, but as a child and teenager, when it came time to choose a new pair every year after my annual eye exam, my parents always let me choose the style and then chose the lens coatings and other options for me before they ordered them. After I moved out on my own as an adult and went to my eye exam and picked out my glasses alone, I was so overwhelmed by all of my glasses options that I had to call my parents for advice! Since then, I have dedicated myself to learning all about eyeglasses, so I can make the best choices on my own without my parents help. I have learned a lot about them and want to share what I have learned with others on a blog! I hope I can help you make the best eyeglasses decision!
