Snow goggles
Courtesy SMM

Museums don't know everything

The Inuit of arctic North America used goggles like these in springtime to protect their eyes. The combination of clear skies, stronger sun and longer days created ideal conditions for snow blindness—an eye injury caused by glaring light bouncing in all directions off the wet, white snow.

The eyepieces, held in place by a braided sinew strap, are curved. They fit tightly against the face, blocking light from above, below and the sides. (Some Inuit darkened the insides with soot to further reduce glare.) The only light enters from the narrow slit in front. Like a permanent squint, snow goggles not only kept light to a minimum, but also helped focus images at a distance.

Snow Goggles

The Inuit

Links

More