Ways Winter Weather Can Affect Your Eyes This Season

​It’s that time of year again. The weather is getting colder, the days are becoming shorter, and snow sports or sitting by the fireplace may be calling your name.  Of course, wintertime can also mean more colds and other illnesses, including eye conditions.
 
The winter weather can affect eyes. Not only does winter bring an increase in certain viral eye infections, such as conjunctivitis (pink eye), but also can it lead to other eye issues. 

Understanding how the winter season can cause eye problems will allow you to take the right precautions to keep your eyes healthy this winter.
 
Winter may affect your eyes in the following ways: 
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Increased Dryness

​​For people who already have dry eyes, the winter months can make symptoms worse. Even if you are not prone to dry eyes, you may notice your eyes are a little more irritated during the winter. The cold, dry air may lead to dry and itchy eyes. Plus, turning up the heat in your car or home to combat the cold temperatures outside may increase dryness even more.
 
What you can do: Consider using eye drops to decrease irritation. If your dry eye is severe, see your eye doctor. Prescription medication may be an option. Using a humidifier in your home to increase moisture may also be helpful. In addition, make sure you don’t have any heaters aimed directly towards your face. For example, in the car, aim the vents towards the floor. 
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Inflammation Of The Cornea

​The winter may not seem like a time to worry about sunburn, but too much sun exposure can burn your eyes. Ultraviolet light from the sun can lead to inflammation of the cornea and cause a condition called photokeratitis. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, photokeratitis is sunburn involving the surface layer of the cornea.
 
You might think photokeratitis does not occur during the winter, but it does. The sunlight reflects off the snow, increasing your risk of UV damage. Even if it’s cloudy and cold out, the sun’s rays can lead to damage. Plus, some people skip sunglasses during the winter, which increases their risk of sustaining damage from the sun.
 
What you can do: One of the best ways to prevent photokeratitis is to wear sunglasses that provide 100 percent UV protection. Be sure to wear your shades even when the skies look gray. They UV rays still penetrate the clouds. If you are participating in snow sports, wear well-fitting goggles that provide UV protection. Goggles should fit snugly and be made from polycarbonate material to prevent shattering.
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Excess Tearing

Although some people develop dry eyes in the winter, the opposite can also occur. Excess tearing is also possible. The cold wind, which is drying, may trigger your eyes to produce more tears to keep them moist. Excessive tearing is not harmful, but it can make your vision a little blurry and be annoying.
 
What you can do: Using eye drops before you go outside during the winter will keep your eyes moist, which might prevent excessive tearing. It may also be useful to protect your eyes from the wind by wearing sunglasses during the day.
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Increased Eyestrain

​Although eyestrain can develop any time of the year, it may be a little more likely to occur during the cold months. During the winter, you may spend more time indoors, which might mean more hours in front of the television, computer screen, or other digital devices. All that time using your electronic devices may lead to eye fatigue or eyestrain. Symptoms of eyestrain include sore, itchy, or burning eyes.
 
What you can do: You can prevent eyestrain by taking frequent breaks from your digital devices. When you do use your computer or other electronic devices, practice the 20-20-20 rule, which involves looking away from your screen at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds, every 20 minutes.
 
Although the winter weather can have some negative or less than pleasant effects on your eyes, taking the above steps can help. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with one of our eye doctors, please call our office at 508-746-8600.
 
We hope this helps make your winter a bit more comfortable. Stay tuned for our next blog post, “Resolutions for Eye Health.” Thanks for reading!