Cold Temperature Exposure: Check Your Symptoms

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When to See a Doctor

Do you have eye pain or vision changes? Note: You may not have any symptoms for 6 to 8 hours after cold exposure.

See significance of eye pain or vision changes if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have severe eye pain?

Yes

Do you think you have snow blindness?

Yes

Do you have any loss of vision?

Yes

Do you have blurred or decreased vision?

Yes

Do you have double vision?

Yes

Do you have severe sensitivity to light (photophobia)?

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Have you had moderate eye pain or sensitivity to light for longer than 2 hours?

Yes

Do you have moderate eye pain or sensitivity to light that is not better after removing your contact lenses?

You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Has mild eye pain or sensitivity to light continued for 24 hours?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Last updated:	July 05, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer