For avid fans of winter sports, the best time of year has come around. Temperatures have dropped and that means there’s snow on the ground for skiing, snowboarding, sledding, ice hockey, winter hikes, and more. While you’re enjoying the fresh snow, don’t forget to protect your eyes!

A fun day on the slopes can take a bad turn if you’re not prepared for the dangers that winter sports present for your eyes. Follow these tips for protecting your eyes so you can enjoy a winter full of fun for many winters to come!

Wear The Right Goggles

There are all kinds of ski and snowboarding goggles out there, but not all of them protect the same way. While style is something that a lot of snowboarders and skiers take seriously, don’t sacrifice protection for style when there are perfectly good-looking and safe goggles available. Keep these things in mind when looking for a pair of goggles:

• Polarized lenses will protect your eyes from glare.
• Anti-fog coating and vents keep your goggles from fogging up and reducing vision.
• Spherical lenses that curve horizontally and vertically, instead of ones that just curve horizontally. This will better reduce glare and improve peripheral vision.
• The color of your lenses is important. Look for lighter-colored lenses like amber when it’s a cloudy day, darker-tinted lenses like gray for sunny days, and clear lenses at night for full visibility.

Wear Sunglasses When You’re Not Wearing Goggles

Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean that the sun isn’t still powerful. The UV rays of the sun will still hit your eyes if they’re left unprotected, causing damage and potentially cancer over time. Plus, with all of the bright white snow on the ground, the sun’s rays are reflected back up at you. Make sure to get sunglasses that have 100% UV ray protection, especially if you’re at a higher altitude where UV rays have more of an effect.

Stay Hydrated

The best thing you can do for your eyes year-round is to stay hydrated. The more dehydrated you are, the less water there is in your body to keep your eyes from drying out. Drying out your eyes makes them more susceptible to damage and fatigue.

Use The Proper Safety Equipment

With all of the winter sports, there are to choose from, it’s tempting to skip some safety equipment to save money. But it’s always worth it to get the proper safety equipment for the sport you’re playing. If you’re playing hockey, get a helmet with a cage. If you’re skiing or snowboarding, get goggles that block UV rays and protect your eyes. Even when hiking, at least wear sunglasses to block the sun and to defend against errant branches that may swing into your face.

Fite Eye Center | Professional Eye Care

Make sure your eyes are ready for all of the winter sports fun this year by coming to Fite Eye Center! Our expert staff can give you an eye exam to ensure that your glasses or contacts are the correct prescriptions. You don’t want to find out your vision could be a little better once you’re already shredding down the slopes! Let our staff set you up for success this winter.