Chile Miners Keep the Shades On

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  Chilean miner Mario Sepulveda

  Chile Miners Keep the Shades On

  

  by Mike Krumboltz

  
  

  The Chilean miners have been free for several days now, and are, we presume, getting used to life on the surface. One thing they apparently haven't gotten 100% used to is the sunlight. The miners are still wearing sunglasses, and many online searchers are wondering why.

  Photos: The dramatic rescue effort

  Oakley donated pairs of their fancy shades to the miners in an effort to help ease the rescued heroes back into life above ground. The concern is very real. According to Dr. Andrew Hartwick, assistant professor at the College of Optometry at Ohio State University, after a history-making 69 days underground, the miners face a risk for possible light damage to the retina.

  An AP article in which he's quoted explains that "there is potential for solar retinopathy, in which the photoreceptors -- the cells within the eye that capture light -- can deteriorate."

  In the article, Dr. Hartwick goes on to explain that there is also a "comfort factor" to the miners wearing shades. "Just like when you walk out of a dark movie theater, it's uncomfortable in the light," he said. "It takes a few minutes for vision to return, and the retina needs to reset itself depending on light levels."

  Related Video: Five touching moments from the rescue

  Considering the miners were trapped underground since early August, they emerged inremarkably good health. This can be largely attributed to the physical regimens they stuck to while underground. They stayed on a strict diet, "including a chocolate drink to boost nutrition and a regimen of aspirin to guard against blood clots during the journey to the surface."

  Not surprisingly, Web searches on the specific sunglasses are through the roof. Over the past 24 hours, online lookups for "oakley sunglasses" and "chile miner oakley sunglasses" have both surged well over 1,000%. However, fans of the spiffy sunglasses should be aware that they run around $180 per pair.
  
  

  http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/94069?fp=1