With the opening of ski resorts and amusement facilities in the ice and snow world in winter, a group of special patients came to the eye emergency room of the hospital. Their eyes were in excruciating pain, constant tears, and difficulty opening their eyes. What the Hell Is This? Today, ophthalmologists to introduce you to a kind of easy to be attacked in the ski resort, “Electric ophthalmia”, also known as”Snow blindness”.
Snow blindness doesn’t just happen in the snow
Many people with electric ophthalmia in winter would mention that they had recently gone skiing or played in the snow, and during this process, they did not pay special attention to wearing protective goggles, then I felt pain in my eyes and couldn’t open them.
Electro-optic ophthalmia, also known as snow blindness, is due to excessive exposure to ultraviolet light caused by conjunctival, corneal damage. When welding or gas welding in the work, will produce a lot of ultraviolet rays, such as not wearing protective goggles or protective masks, will cause eye damage.
Compared to electric welding, the natural environment of ultraviolet light intensity is much lower. However, in areas such as mountains, glaciers, snow, sea or desert, high levels of UV reflected light can cause damage to the eyes from prolonged exposure to high doses of UV light. In addition, if the cleaning staff forget to turn off the UV lights, but also the eyes by UV burns.
Good protection in special environment is the key
The main clinical manifestations of electro-optic ophthalmia include eyelid, conjunctival swelling, severe foreign body sensation and pain, photophobia, tears and difficulty in opening eyes, there will be blurred vision during the onset of the situation.
In view of the above-mentioned reasons, we suggest to strengthen personal protection in special circumstances, such as staff seriously wear a protective mask or protective glasses; People who work or travel in plateau, glacier, snow, sea or desert areas should also wear protective glasses or helmets.
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The use of narcotic drugs during treatment should be minimized
Occurs when electro-optic ophthalmitis, ultraviolet light will cause corneal epithelial exfoliation, epithelial nerve endings exposed, which is the cause of severe eye pain. The pain lasts for 6 to 8 hours and gradually subsides. Therefore, electric ophthalmia is the most difficult ultraviolet burns within a day of time. Key treatments include:
Reduce Eye use. It’s best to close your eyes and rest. Use medications, antibiotic eye drops, and ointment that promote corneal epithelial repair. If the pain is truly unbearable, you can order a topical anesthetic (a Local anesthetic) or take an oral pain medication. Need to pay attention to is, do not in order to relieve pain, abuse of table anesthetic, because table anesthetic irritant, can hinder the growth of corneal epithelium.
Therefore, if the eye pain can be tolerated to try not to use, eye symptoms in general after a day will be significantly improved, the corneal epithelium damage 2 to 3 days can be fully healed, we do not have to worry.