HistoryPorn

I'm indigenous in northern Ontario and in the winters, especially late winter and the start of spring when we have lots of sun and lots of snow everywhere, snow blindness is no joke.

I've had snow blindness three times as a stupid little kid. It's like having an uncontrollable itch behind your eyeballs. There's nothing you can do about it and you can't keep your eyes open either. The most comfortable thing to do is close your eyes and keep them closed until it gets better ... which is usually a day or two ..... which makes you literally blind during that whole time.

We live just north enough to deal with some risk to snow blindness but south enough that it isn't usually a problem for us. We live in the trees and forest so the light is always broken up even on the brightest days. The Inuit north of us have it worse, they live in the wide open unbroken snow and sun all winter long.

It isn't a problem unless you're a dumb kid that doesn't want to listen to his parents.

cyberpunk 1977

The effectiveness of Inuit snow goggles lies in their ability to combat the unique challenges of the Arctic environment. Here’s a detailed breakdown of their functionality:

Reducing Light Exposure: The narrow slits drastically reduce the amount of light entering the eyes. By limiting the light intake, the goggles prevent the retina from being overwhelmed by the intense reflections off the snow and ice.

Blocking UV Rays: Snow reflects up to 80% of UV rays, which can cause severe eye damage. The slit design of the goggles blocks a significant portion of these harmful rays, protecting the eyes from potential injury.

Improving Focus and Depth Perception: The slits also help in focusing light more precisely onto the retina, enhancing depth perception and contrast. This is particularly useful in the flat, monochromatic landscapes of the Arctic, where distinguishing between different features can be challenging.

Ventilation and Anti-Fogging: The simple design of the goggles allows for natural ventilation, preventing fogging. Unlike modern goggles, there are no lenses to fog up, ensuring clear vision at all times.

https://inuitgoggles.com/blogs/notizie/how-do-inuit-snow-goggles-work

Reading some comments I thought I'd reply.

The real problem isn't so much in the winter (ski season). It's in the summer but there's still snow on the ground. You get the summer sun twice. From above and again when it bounces off the snow and up into your eyes.

The effect is like a sunburn in your eyes. I had it once hiking in the mountains (summer) and going over a longish section of snow.

Would they not more likely be made of bone than wood?

I’d wager bone is more abundant than wood for them?

Captain Cold

I learned about snow blindness and those slitted goggles from an episode of Inspector Gadget

Shit is dope