With the opening of major ski resorts and ice and snow world amusement facilities in winter, a special group of patients have arrived in the hospital's ophthalmology emergency room. Their eyes showed symptoms such as unbearable pain, continuous tears, and difficulty opening their eyes. What is the situation? Today, an ophthalmologist will introduce to you a type of "electric ophthalmia" that is easily attacked at ski resorts, also known as "snow blindness". Snow blindness "not only occurs in patients with electric eye inflammation in snowy winter, but many people also mention recent experiences of skiing or playing in the snow, and during this process, they did not pay special attention to wearing protective goggles, and subsequently felt eye pain and unable to open. Electro optic ophthalmia, also known as snow blindness, is damage to the conjunctiva and cornea caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation. When welding or gas welding at work, a large amount of ultraviolet radiation is generated. If protective goggles or face shields are not worn, it can cause eye damage. Compared to welding, the intensity of ultraviolet radiation in the natural environment is much lower. However, in areas such as mountains, glaciers, snow, sea surfaces, or deserts, prolonged exposure to high doses of ultraviolet radiation can also cause damage to the eyes due to the increased content of reflected ultraviolet light. In addition, if cleaning personnel forget to turn off the UV light, it can also cause eye burns from UV radiation. Proper protection in special environments is key. The main clinical manifestations of electrooptic ophthalmia include redness and swelling of the eyelids and conjunctiva, severe foreign body sensation and pain, fear of light, tearing, and difficulty opening the eyes. During the onset of the disease, there may also be blurred vision. For the reasons mentioned earlier, it is recommended that everyone strengthen personal protection in special environments, such as staff wearing protective masks or goggles carefully; Personnel working or traveling in high-altitude, glacier, snowy, sea or desert areas should also wear protective goggles or helmets; Pay attention to the correct use and on/off status of ultraviolet lamps. During the treatment period, try to avoid using anesthetics as much as possible. When electric ophthalmia occurs, ultraviolet radiation can cause corneal epithelial detachment and expose nerve endings between the epithelium, which is the cause of severe eye pain. This pain symptom can last for 6 to 8 hours and gradually subsides thereafter. Therefore, the most unbearable time for electric eye inflammation is within one day after the ultraviolet burn. The main treatment measures include: reducing eye use and preferably resting with eyes closed; Apply drugs, antibiotic eye drops, and eye ointments that promote corneal epithelial repair; If the pain is unbearable, you can order some topical anesthetics (a type of local anesthetic) or take some painkillers orally. It should be noted that do not abuse topical anesthetics for pain relief, as topical anesthetics can be irritating and hinder the growth of corneal epithelium. Therefore, if eye pain can be tolerated, try not to use it. Eye symptoms usually improve significantly after one day, and the damaged corneal epithelium can fully heal in 2 to 3 days. Don't worry. (New Society)