It’s nearly time for Santa Claus to set off on his annual trip around the world, dropping off gifts to everyone who has made it onto the nice list this year.
But have you ever wondered what Santa’s reindeer can actually see as they fly his sleigh through the sky on Christmas Eve?
Veterinary eye expert Chris Dixon has lifted the lid on what vision is really like for Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph – and if Rudolph’s red nose really does help to light their way.
Chris is clinical director at Linnaeus-owned Veterinary Vision, which has a centre in Bamber Bridge, and has more than 20 years’ experience treating animals for a range of eye problems.
He says that unlike humans, Arctic reindeer can see ultraviolet (UV) light – which means their vision is perfectly suited for their native snowy environment, and they’ll have no problem seeing the way ahead if we end up with a white Christmas.
Chris (pictured) said: “While we might struggle to distinguish between snow and hidden objects, reindeer excel at this because UV light, reflected vividly by snow, makes camouflaged objects stand out against the wintry backdrop.
“So, in their native environment, their ability to see UV light helps them to spot predators, such as wolves, hiding and identify food sources such as lichen, which is a key food source for them.
“It has also been proposed that this enhanced visual ability may increase their ability to detect magic dust scattered by children around the world.”
But how will the reindeer cope with a long night of flying through the dark night skies?
Chris (pictured below) says their eyes adapt to the Arctic seasons, so this won’t be a problem.
He said: “In summer, their reflective eye tissue, which is called tapetum lucidum, shines golden, but in the dim, purplish winter light, it shifts to a deep blue.
“This change improves their ability to capture what little light exists during the endless polar night, giving Santa’s sleigh team a cutting-edge advantage over even the best GPS systems.”
And what if Santa’s Christmas Eve flight is impaired by bad weather and visibility is poor?
Chris says this is where Rudolph’s luminous nose and his fellow reindeers’ extraordinary eyesight will come in handy – making make for an unbeatable combination in navigating through wintry skies.
He said: “If we have a foggy Christmas Eve, that’s where Rudolph’s iconic red nose comes in. It turns out that red light has the longest wavelength, making it the most effective at penetrating thick fog or ice crystals.
“While blue light, the specialty of reindeer eyes, gets scattered in such conditions, it has been proposed that Rudolph’s glowing nose cuts through the murk like a festive laser beam.
“Scientists estimate that Rudolph’s nose emits light akin to the redness of holly berries, peaking at a wavelength of around 700 nanometers (nm) – meaning that it can offer all the light which the reindeer need for them to keep flying.
“Rudolph’s shiny red nose perfectly complements his team’s natural abilities, allowing them to steer clear of obstacles and stay on course for global gift delivery.”
The downside to Rudolph’s shiny red nose is the nose of a reindeer is packed with dense blood vessels to keep them warm – meaning when it glows, this could theoretically lead to some heat loss.
Chris said: “That’s where Santa’s thoughtful preparation comes in – with a few carrots, Rudolph will be able to stay fuelled and frost-free.”
So, when you go to bed on Christmas Eve, you can rest assured that Rudolph and his friends will be hard at work guiding Father Christmas across the globe – whatever the conditions.
As well as its centre in Bamber Bridge, Veterinary Vision has state-of-the-art clinics in Penrith, Sunderland and Glasgow.
