by Michael Hodgson

It's hard to really enjoy the winter wonderland if you can't see it properly, and yet more often than not, sunglasses and goggles are but an afterthought purchase. The excuses offered are as numerous and varied as the snowflakes swirling through the cabin eves: "I'll just get a pair at the resort," "Too expensive," "I'll just lose 'em," "They make me look like Darth Vader!," "They always fog," "I break every pair so just give me something cheap..." Whoa nellie! Proper eye protection is as important if not more so than the ski package, ski racks, fashion clothing and other accessories most people eagerly plunk down the green for.

The higher you get above sea-level, there is less filtration of radiation. Due to the reflective nature of snow, up to 85-percent of the UV radiation may be reflected upward, emphasizing even more reason for the use of goggles (or mountaineering-style sunglasses) in sunny and slightly overcast conditions.

If you want to cut through the mumbo-jumbo of harmful and not so harmful rays, it is important to understand the basics. UV radiation has been linked over long-term exposure to serious eye disease such as cataracts and in the short term to temporary afflictions such as snow blindness. There are three types of UV radiation: UVC which never reaches the eye and is not harmful; UVB, known as tanning rays, creates painful but usually temporary damage to the cornea which can repair itself; UVA is absorbed by the lens of the eye resulting in damage that is difficult to repair and in the case of retinal damage, most often permanent.

At the very least, the goggle or sunglasses you buy should remove 100% of the UV radiation. A number of companies are also touting the importance of IR (infrared radiation or radiant energy) protection, even though IR has yet to be established as harmful under normal viewing conditions. Still, in high mountain environments, under an intense sun, conditions are far from normal.

Where goggles depart from the world of sunglasses and service the functional needs of the skier and winter recreationist is in their design. The wrap-around style of goggles serves to protect from both direct and indirect (reflected) radiation and helps to deflect snow, debris and wind away from the eyes. But, just because you own a goggle, doesn't necessarily mean you are getting the protection you really need.

You do get what you pay for in terms of features and overall function of a goggle. Whether inexpensive or pricey all goggles are sealed around the face with some type of soft hypoallergenic foam and secured with an elastic strapping. From there, features become the name of the game--many designed to prevent or reduce the nemesis of most recreational skiers, fogging.

For that reason, the better goggles are designed with double lenses which act as a thermal barrier. Air is sealed between the two surfaces so that the inside and outside temperatures are equalized, thereby reducing the potential for fogging. You need to be careful not to handle your goggles too roughly. If the seal is broken, moisture could get in between the glass layers and that will lead to fogging every time.

Another tactic used to prevent fogging is an anti-fog coating applied by the factory to the surface of the lens. The idea behind fog coatings is creating a surface that absorbs moisture and dissipates it quickly.

Vents are yet another way designers work to reduce fogging potential in goggles. Some methods are downright unique, such as Scott's venturi design which creates a chamber of low pressure when the skier is moving, forcing air through the top of the goggle and then back out the bottom. Since air movement can be irritating to the eyes, especially for contact wearers, Smith designed the regulator which allows airflow ventilation to be adjusted for var ying ski conditions.

If you wear glasses, that adds another challenge to the equation because it puts another lens into the goggle which double the opportunity for fogging and can affect the fit. Always make sure that you are purchasing goggles designed to fit over goggles--most manufacturers have special models for this purpose. Wear only glasses with nylon frames and with polycarbonate lenses as this will minimize the opportunity for fogging. Also, pick up some anti-fog solution for your glasses since most likely it will be your glasses that fog and not the goggles.

Aside from the features that affect the price and performance, how much should you care about fit? In general, the foam padding should create a uniform seal around the face without the band being tightened to skull-compression tension. No goggle is 100% fog-free, but, unless you are an aggressive racer, I recommend models with more room (less streamlined) as the increased air space means less chance for fogging. Sure, you'll look like a giant bug, but if you can see, who cares--it's performance that matters and that translates into protection from the sun, protection from the snow, wind deflection and minimal fogging. After all, you want to be able to see all the fun you're going to be having, don't you?

© 1999 Michael Hodgson; All Rights Reserved