Flash eye (also called snow blindness or arc eye), is a painful condition in the eyes caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. It is like the cornea (the transparent outer layer of the eye) has a sunburn. Flash eye is most likely to happen to people who take part in outdoor sports or activities in relatively high altitudes or at sea, where surfaces reflect light into the eyes. At high altitudes, there is less air to filter light and so it is much more intense. Man-made sources of UV radiation, such as a welder’s torch or sun lamps, have the same effect.
Guidelines
Good practice points
- If applicable, the person should remove their contact lenses.
- The person should protect their eyes and let them rest as much as possible, by:
> staying indoors and wearing sunglasses to relieve pain or discomfort
> keeping their eyes closed as much as possible
> covering their closed eyelids with a cool, damp cloth. - The person’s eyes should stay moist (e.g., using saline solution or eye drops).
- The person should avoid rubbing their eyes.
- If symptoms last longer than a day or if they worsen, the person should seek medical advice.
Chain of survival behaviours
Prevent and prepare
- Wear protective eye gear when in the sun or undertaking tasks that expose the eyes to UV light. Protect the eyes from direct or indirect radiation that might reach them from above, below, as well as sideways.
Early recognition
The person may have:
- a feeling that something is in their eyes
- a burning sensation in their eyes
- blurred or loss of vision
- red and watery eyes
- sensitivity to light
- headaches
- swelling around the eyes.
First aid steps
- Move the person away from the source of light and reassure them.
- If they are wearing contact lenses advise them to remove them.
- Help them protect their eyes and let them rest as much as possible, by:
a. staying indoors and wearing sunglasses to relieve pain or discomfort
b. keeping their eyes closed as much as possible
c. covering their closed eyelids with a cool, damp cloth
d. putting saline solution or eye drops in their eyes to keep them moist. - If their condition doesn’t improve in 24 hours, seek medical advice.
Access help
- Flash eye usually passes but if it lasts longer than a day or the symptoms worsen access medical care.
Education considerations
Context considerations
- Learners who are at a higher risk of flash eye, for example, those who weld, work with or use sunbeds or spend time in the snow or at the sea, may benefit from learning about this topic.
- Use relevant or local terminology for this condition. For example, welders may refer to the condition as arc eye (or flash eye), whereas learners who spend time in the snow may call it snow blindness.
Facilitation tips
- Emphasise that flash eye is not limited to areas with snow. It can occur in any setting where there are high levels of UV light, including near water, sandy beaches, and where there is ice, or in certain work environments (e.g., welding).
- Emphasise that prevention includes wearing proper eye protection.
Scientific foundation
A Centre for Evidence-Based Practice (CEBaP) evidence summary on the use of wet dressings as first aid treatment could not identify any relevant studies.
Prevention
A second evidence summary from CEBaP identified limited evidence from three observational studies in favour of wearing eye protection. The studies showed that wearing eye protection resulted in a statistically significant decrease in work-related eye injuries, compared to not wearing protection. Evidence is of very low certainty and results cannot be considered precise due to limited sample size (CEBaP, 2019).
References
Centre for Evidence-Based Practice, Belgian Red Cross-Flanders. (2019). Evidence summary Snowblindness/Welder’s eye – Sunglasses/Welding glasses. Available from: https://www.cebap.org/knowledge-dissemination/first-aid-evidence-summaries/
Centre for Evidence-Based Practice, Belgian Red Cross-Flanders. (2019). Evidence summary Snowblindness / Welder’s eye – Wet dressing. Available from: https://www.cebap.org/knowledge-dissemination/first-aid-evidence-summaries/
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Published: 15 February 2021
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