For Inuit hunters on pack ice or in the high tundra, especially in the spring, when the sun light is coming in at a low angle and snow cover is mazimal, run the risk of developing painful snow blindess. Avoiding snow blindness involves restricting the amount of sunlight coming into the eyes. This is done by wearing googles that allow only a sliver, or small pinpricks of sunlight to reach the retinas. There are many types of snow goggles—slit like apertures (double or single), small holes that allow just a little light to reach eye, blackened goggle interiors that reduce reflection with the goggles, etc. Materials used by Inuits to make snow goggles varies greatly. They can be made of drift wood, bone (caribou, musk ox, sea mammal), walrus tusk ivory, baleen, tanned leather, etc. The goggles here were made from caribou antler, split so that the hard cortical layer is on the ouside and the spongy medullary layer of the flattened antler is on the inside. The goggle have been crudely shaped on the in side to fit closely around the nose. This is the form with just a single slit-like aperture running across the face of the goggles. There is a leather thong to tie behind the head (this thong is probably a replacement). Snow goggles are difficult to come by for collectors, and this is nice item. Fine.
