‘Tis the Season (for Dry Eyes)

The winter season brings with it plenty of cheer. However, winter can be notoriously hard on your eyes. You might think how it can be worse than the summer and its constant barrage of sunlight. The number one cause of eye discomfort is dry eyes, which can be exasperated by winter weather. We thought we’d explore this subject and how you can minimize the problem this season.

What Are Our Tears Made of?

Tears serve a few purposes, and the contents of your tears all work together to accomplish their goals. Tears are mostly water, which is used to moisten your eyes. With that are natural oils for the lubrication of your eyes. Mucus ensures an even distribution of your tears across the entire eye. Finally, antibodies fight incoming bacteria.

Why Do My Eyes Get Dry in the Winter?

You might think of winter as wet. After all, all that snow and ice is made of water, right? While that’s true, the air itself is extremely dry. Dry air does a number on your body, from your skin to your eyes. Dry eyes are irritating at best and can cause bigger problems at worst.

How to Thwart Dry Eyes this Winter

Luckily, there are a few things you can do to minimize or cure the effect of dry eyes. Let’s explore these options.

Invest in a Quality Humidifier – If you do not have a humidifier in your office and home during the winter, then you’re probably experiencing extremely dry air. A humidifier introduces moisture into the air, either through sonic vibrations or evaporation. We suggest that you invest in a humidifier that is rated for the square footage of your space.

Keep Warm Air Away – As tempting as space heaters are in the winter, we recommend keeping them away from your face, especially when you are sleeping. All of that dry, hot air will quickly dry out your eyes. Furthermore, if you have a heating vent positioned over your bed, then you might want to consider moving your bed away from it in the winter.

Use Artificial Tears – There are several products on the market known as “artificial tears.” These are over-the-counter and can be found at any pharmacy or supermarket. Artificial tears are specially formulated to lubricate and moisturize your eyes when your tears can’t keep up. We recommend you ensure you’re buying artificial tears and NOT a red-eye product, which can dry you out further.

Wear Sunglasses – The sun in the winter can sneak up on you. A sunny winter day can be just as destructive to your eyes as one in the summer. Just because the weather has changed doesn’t mean you should put the sunglasses away. Exposure to sunlight can dry out your eyes and cause other vision problems.

Are you feeling eye discomfort? If you’ve experienced any changes in your vision, then reach out to us today for an evaluation.