In skiing, the desire to hit the slopes without sunglasses quickly arrived, but it is a very bad idea.
- To choose good sunglasses, it is best to go to an optician.
- 71% of French people own sunglasses.
“Everyone knows today that it is essential to protect their eyes against the deleterious effects of the sun, especially at altitude. But it is rare that we talk about the danger linked to glare on the ski slopes “. While many people are currently enjoying the joys of the mountains, the association for the improvement of sight (AsnaV) alert on glare, which can lead to accidents or damage the eyes.
Two types of glare
Glare is a temporary loss of visual performance due to a level of illumination higher than that to which the eyes are adapted. It can be caused directly by intense lighting, or indirectly by reflection on a smooth and shiny surface, such as snow for example. Two types of glare are particularly disabling and can present a real danger in certain situations:
– neutralizing glare, which blurs or even hinders vision. Visual acuity is maintained, but the vision of contrasts and reliefs is altered. It then becomes difficult to avoid an obstacle, especially on a clear surface.
– blinding glare, which occurs when an intense light source appears in the field of vision and temporarily blocks it. “After a blinding glare, the recovery of sight can take 30 to 40 seconds. On a ski slope, at 35 km/h, you will have traveled 300 meters…”, reports AsnaV.
Vision problems to watch out for
To prevent any glare, ski goggles and sunglasses provide the necessary protection, provided that this equipment is of good quality.“However, people with certain vision disorders should be given special attention,” continue the experts.
This is particularly the case for people with astigmatism or those with the onset of cataracts, whose sensitivity to light is much higher. Similarly, this sensitivity may appear following refractive surgery (myopia or other visual defects) and be due to the side effects of certain medications, such as psychotropics and antihistamines. Finally, you should know that the natural resistance to glare decreases sharply with age.
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