Regional Jet 700 ER/LR (CRJ700)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft
[We were] flying at FL380 [when the] Captain's side windshield iced up rapidly. Like something out of that movie; 'The Day After Tomorrow'. Except the ice was on the inside of the window and it wouldn't come off. At that point we were concerned with the window blowing and/or my window getting iced up and neither of us being able to see outside. I selected the windshield heat to high to no avail. So we [advised ATC] and began a rapid descent down to FL240. On the descent the CA deployed the flight spoilers to help us get down quicker. And we got the Amber FLT SPOILERON MSG and the Amber FLT SPOILER MSG. At this point the ice was only getting worse on the Captain's window so we both decided that it would be best if I flew the approach. I landed and we had fire trucks follow us down the runway; and had to wait until the window [thawed] before we could taxi clear of the runway.
CRJ-700 First Officer reported the Captain's window iced up on the inside at FL380 resulting in impaired vision and did not clear up until it thawed after landing.