Winterize Your EyesProtect Your Eyes from the Cold
Many people eagerly anticipate winter for its beautiful snowfalls, holiday traditions and fun seasonal sports. Unfortunately, you might also suffer from watery, itchy or dry eyes in winter due to the cold weather. There are more eye health challenges during winter, like allergies, snow glare and freezing wind chills. Your eyes are affected by winter weather conditions, but you can avoid seasonal discomfort with the proper winter eye protection. Our team at Visionworks is here to help you winterize your eyes with the ultimate guide to protecting your eyes from the cold.
Tips to Achieve Winter Dry Eye Relief
Almost all of us are familiar with dry eyes. The condition occurs when tears aren’t able to provide adequate moisture. This can be influenced by a change in weather conditions or even by computer vision syndrome, especially if you regularly stare at a screen for an extended period. Many people experience dry eyes in winter because cold air contains less water vapor than warm air, and strong winds can further reduce eye moisture. Your eyes can become dry even in humid climates! Spending more time indoors usually means more screen time, which is also a dry eye trigger. If your eyes look red, feel itchy or have a burning sensation, you may suffer from dry eye. Once you recognize that dry eye is the cause of your discomfort, you can combat it using a few easy tips.
1. Use Eye Drops
At the first sign of dryness, apply eye drops to keep your eyes moist and comfortable. Preservative-free artificial tears are typically safe for frequent use. You can buy eye drops over the counter at any drugstore. If the condition persists, consult your eye doctor about your symptoms and get recommendations on eye drop use and other preventive measures.
2. Use a Humidifier
Humidifiers can be a lifesaver for relieving colds, allergies, dryness of the nasal passages and sinuses and even dry, itchy eyes in winter. Take preventive measures and set up a humidifier before dry eye becomes an issue. That way, you’ll be less likely to develop dry or watery eyes in the cold months ahead. You can use humidifiers day or night—the ideal humidity level for healthy eyes and skin is around 45%. Place one next to your bed or purchase a home humidifier system that distributes vaporized air throughout the house.
3. Wear Glasses instead of Contacts
Dry winter eyes can make wearing contacts uncomfortable, especially if you wear them for extended periods. While you can use wetting agents to keep your eyes moist, wearing glasses for cold weather can provide enhanced comfort and relief for your dry eyes. Stay on-trend and protect your eyes this winter by shopping for the latest glasses styles from Visionworks!
4. Turn Down the Heat
Are you running the heater frequently? Dry, hot air could be the culprit causing your dry eye. Try lowering the heat or directing the vents in your home or car away from your eyes. Direct exposure to airflow from heaters can result in dry, itchy eyes in winter.
5. Stay Hydrated
Even when summer’s over, it’s still important to stay hydrated! Drinking water daily can relieve dry eyes and keep your body functioning at its best. You may remember an old saying to drink 8 glasses of water a day. This is a good start, but your body’s needs may fluctuate based on weight, activity levels and other health factors. On average, men require about 1 gallon (3.7 liters) of water daily, and women need 3/4 gallons (2.7 liters). A good rule of thumb is this: if you feel thirsty, drink water!
How to Stop Eyes from Watering in the Cold
If you don’t experience dry eyes in the winter, you might experience the opposite problem: watery eyes. Strange but true. Dryer air leaves our eyes with a thinner layer of tears to protect the eye’s surface. For some people, this can result in the overproduction of tears. Cold gusts of wind outside may be enough to make you teary-eyed. If you suffer from watery, itchy or dry eyes when you step outside during the winter, you can benefit from learning the essential tips for protecting your eyes from the cold.
1. Wear Sunglasses
Though sunglasses are essential in the summer, they’re just as necessary in winter months. Large sunglasses help shield your eyes from the cold. Sunglasses protect eyes from wind gusts that can make eyes water and reduce bright, damaging light reflected from the snow. The next time you have to face cold weather, try wearing sunglasses.
2. Wear Glasses for Winter Eye Protection
If you wear contacts, try switching to glasses during the winter. When your eyes water and tear up, wearing contacts can be difficult because they tend to float, slide and blur vision. Glasses also offer a protective barrier from wind, cold and allergens, which contacts can’t provide.
3. Wear Hats, Hoods and Scarves
Shelter your eyes from freezing temperatures and harsh winds, which lead to watery winter eyes. Hats, hoods and scarves offer some winter eye protection from the elements. You’ll feel warmer, dryer and cozier when you venture outside—and your eyes will thank you for the extra protection.
Reduce Glare from Snow
While fresh snowfalls are beautiful, they pose a hidden risk to your eye health and comfort. Snow glare occurs when the sun reflects from the snow’s surface and creates intense UV light, which is very dangerous to the eyes. This can result in discomfort, trouble seeing or even snow blindness. Snow blindness, or photokeratitis, happens when the cornea is damaged by intense UV light, resulting in temporary blurry vision. Over time, snow glare and snow blindness can lead to cataracts, macular degeneration or other vision issues. While playing in the snow, knowing how to protect your eyes is essential.
1. Use Goggles for Snow Sports
Considering cold and snowy weather conditions is crucial when choosing proper winter eye protection for skiing or other winter sports. If you're an outdoor enthusiast and plan to be active this winter, ensure you’re prepared to protect your eyes. The sun is more intense at higher altitudes, so there’s a stronger risk of snow glare. Opting for winter sports goggles that provide 100% UV protection keeps your eyes safe from the sun. Goggles also offer complete eye protection to prevent snow and ice from spraying into your face while you’re skiing down the slopes.
2. Wear Sunglasses Outdoors and While Driving
Even on winter days when the sun hides behind the clouds, sunglasses protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet light. Wear sunglasses for cold weather that specifically protect from UV-A and UV-B rays. Wear sunglasses both outdoors and while driving. You never know when a snowbank will cause intense glare on the road, so be sure you can see well enough to maneuver your vehicle.
3. Try Elite Non-glare Lenses
Elite non-glare lenses help reduce glare and improve vision in the snow and at night. Non-glare glasses help reduce eye strain and reflections by as much as 90% and provide ten times more scratch resistance than regular lenses. Plus, you can take holiday card photos in confidence, knowing your glasses won’t have a distracting reflection in the picture.
Stop Itchy Winter Eyes
Dry, itchy eyes in winter are often the result of the season’s low humidity and increased allergens that may result from exposure to smoke from bonfires and fireplaces and indoor dust particles. Dryer winter air also allows viruses and bacteria to thrive and spread, which is why more people get colds and flu during the season. Touching or rubbing your eyes before washing your hands increases the risk of germs getting into your eyes, leading to irritation, itchiness or even infections. With so many factors that can set off itchy eyes, it’s crucial to know the tips to soothe them and prevent problems of occurring in the first place.
1. Don’t Touch Your Eyes
Wintertime is cold and flu season, so be extra diligent about washing your hands to reduce the spread of viruses and bacteria. Never touch or rub your eyes without first washing your hands. Germs from your fingers can quickly spread to your eyes and make them irritated and itchy or cause an infection.
2. Protect Your Eyes with Sunglasses or Prescription Glasses for Cold Weather
Wearing your prescription glasses or sunglasses outdoors helps reduce and prevent eye allergies. This is because the lenses block airborne particles and pollen that can directly enter the eye and contribute to irritation.
3. Stay Away from Allergy Triggers
Winter months come with all sorts of allergy triggers. Identify your triggers early on and mediate them or avoid them altogether. When spending more time indoors, you may be exposed to more dust and pet dander than at other times of the year. To mitigate indoor allergens, adopt a regular house cleaning schedule and replace air filters frequently. Smoke from bonfires and fireplaces can also be an allergy trigger for many people. Keep a distance from fires and limit the time you spend near them.
Enjoy The Season
Wintertime offers many opportunities for seasonal activities like holiday baking, snow sports and accessorizing your favorite winter fashions. Remember to take care of your eyes so you can be more comfortable throughout the cold weather months and enjoy all they have to offer. Make sure to schedule an eye exam near you at your local Visionworks store to use up your FSA/HSA funds or vision benefits before they expire. Be proactive—ensure your eyes are healthy and protected for the winter months and the new year ahead!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my eyes be affected by the cold?
Yes, cold temperatures can lead to watery eyes, itchy eyes and dry eyes in winter. You might also experience impaired vision from snow glare.
Why do my eyes water in the cold?
Cold temperatures bring dryer air and low humidity, which leave our eyes with a thinner layer of tears to protect the eye’s surface. For some people, this results in an overproduction of tears, leading to watery eyes.
Why are my eyes dry and itchy in winter?
Extra dry air and increased germs getting into the eyes or allergens like dust and smoke can produce itchy eyes during winter.
What are the best ways to protect my eyes from the cold?
The best way to protect your eyes from the cold is to be proactive. Use a humidifier indoors, protect your eyes and face with glasses, hats and scarves—and stay hydrated.
What are good ways to relieve dry eyes in winter?
Winter dry eyes can be soothed with eye drops, using a humidifier and drinking plenty of water. Take proactive measures, like opting for glasses instead of contacts and reducing direct exposure to warm air from heaters.
Why do eyes sometimes feel more tired during the winter?
Reduced daylight and indoor heating can lead to dry eyes in winter, while prolonged screen time on shorter days can increase eye fatigue and strain.
Does vision get blurry in the winter?
Cold air and low humidity can dry the eyes, potentially leading to blurriness. Additionally, glare from snow and reduced daylight can temporarily affect visual clarity in winter.
Can eyes change color during the winter?
Eyes don't change color seasonally. Yet, the softer lighting of winter and the surrounding environment might give an illusion of a slight change in hue.
Take great care of your eyes and update your style with new sunglasses from Visionworks!
Information received through Visionworks® content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Claims regarding blue light efficiency are supported by manufacturer-provided test results.
