It is common for cold winds and arctic winter conditions to make your eyes water more than normal. The cooler temperatures cause your tears to evaporate quicker so your eyes respond by producing more tears. If you wear glasses, this will help protect your eyes against the wind.
We tend to spend more time indoors over winter so our screen time usually increases either watching TV, using our phones, tablets or computers. Looking at screens mean our eyes blink less and tire more quickly. We normally blink around every 10 seconds but this is less when staring at a digital screen and this might make your eyes sore, aggravating any dry eye symptoms you may already be suffering from.
A great rule to remember is 20-20-20, which recommends after 20 minutes using a screen of any type try to stare at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Make an effort to blink more if you can as we always blink less when doing something that needs visual attention.
Colder weather means turning up the heat but central heating can cause dry, gritty and sore eyes. If you suffer from dry eyes already, the heating can make them feel even more uncomfortable. The same thing goes for your car heaters, which are often blowing around your face.
Treatment for dry eyes will vary depending on the cause, so always discuss this with your optician but you may benefit from lubricating eye drops.
Snow and ice reflect the sun’s ultraviolet rays, and not just when skiing, so your eyes are hit from above and below. This UV exposure can cause long term damage making you more likely to suffer from cataracts and age related macular degeneration (AMD). Wearing good quality sunglasses with the latest lens technology will help reduce this so remember to use them all year round and not just in the summer months.
Low winter sun when driving can be a challenge so always use your sunglasses when driving to help with this, as well as keeping your windscreen clean and clear inside and out.
Longer nights mean less daylight hours and poor light conditions means your eyes will be working harder, increasing your chances of eye strain and fatigue. If you are due your eye examination, don’t put it off.
And finally, try to include leafy greens in your diet. Kale, chard and spinach are full of lutein and zeaxanthin, vital nutrients to keep your eyes healthy.
