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Snow-blindness in Antarctic region is due to:
Ozone thinning over Antarctica allows high doses of UV-B radiation to reach the Earth. The human cornea absorbs UV-B radiation, and a high dose of UV-B causes painful inflammation of the cornea, called snow-blindness (photokeratitis), and cataract! Mark Option (2) in 5 seconds.
UV radiation from the sun is categorized into UV-C, UV-B, and UV-A. UV-C is absorbed by the atmosphere; UV-B is largely absorbed by the stratospheric ozone shield. Thinning of the ozone layer over Antarctica allows excessive UV-B to penetrate to the surface.
NCERT explicitly states: "In human eye, cornea absorbs UV-B radiation, and a high dose of UV-B causes inflammation of cornea, called snow-blindness, cataract, etc. Such exposure may permanently damage the cornea."
- Option (1) claims freezing of fluids: Antarctic temperatures are cold, but eye fluids do not freeze while alive. - Option (3) claims reflection of visible light from snow: Snow reflects UV-B, but the direct cause of blindness is the corneal inflammation induced by UV-B, not mere visible light reflection. - Option (4) mentions infra-red damage to retina: Snow blindness involves UV-B damage to the CORNEA, not IR damage to the retina.
Option (2) precisely articulates the medical definition and NCERT explanation of snow-blindness.
Diagnose every choice: Know exactly why the right option works and why distractors fail.
Incorrect; eye humors (aqueous and vitreous) are regulated at core body temperature and do not freeze in snow-blindness.
Factually exact; snow-blindness (photokeratitis) is acute inflammation of the corneal epithelium caused by excessive UV-B exposure.
Incorrect; while snow has a high albedo and reflects UV, the biological pathology itself is cornea inflammation caused specifically by UV-B rays, not mere bright visible light.
Incorrect; the affected tissue is the CORNEA (not retina) and the radiation type is UV-B (not infra-red).
Snow-blindness affects the CORNEA (inflammation/photokeratitis) caused by UV-B radiation. Cataract also affects the lens due to UV-B.
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