Cold Weather Eye Health

‘Tis the season… for eye problems

There is much to enjoy about the changing of the seasons, but as the weather turns colder your eyes can be exposed to harsh conditions. During the fall and winter months, many people suffer from eye health problems, such as dry eyes or eye inflammation. Read on below to learn more about these conditions and what you can do to prevent or alleviate them.

Dry air means dry eyes

Colder weather means that it’s time to turn on the heater. Unfortunately, this is what causes the most common fall and winter eye health complaint dryness, which often leads to excessive watering of the eyes. Dry eye symptoms such as burning and itching, or the sensation of foreign objects in the eye, are often brought on by the reduced humidity levels in our homes and workplaces due to heating. Exposure to cold windy conditions outside can further exacerbate these symptoms.

While dry eyes can affect everyone, people who wear contacts are especially prone to experiencing these symptoms in fall and winter. Peri- and post-menopausal women are also more likely to suffer from eye dryness due to the loss of estrogen. If left untreated, dry eyes can cause blurry vision and even damage to the cornea.

How can you help prevent dry eyes?

• Keep your eyes moist. Stay hydrated with extra fluids and, if possible, use a hot- or cold-air humidifier to increase the humidity level in your home or office while you’re awake and your eyes are open.
• Use eye drops. Artificial tears lubricate your eyes and increase comfort. They are available over the counter at most pharmacies as a simple saline solution or tear gel, and help the natural tear layer by keeping it from evaporating too rapidly.
• Blink more often. When you are focused on complex visual tasks, such as working on a computer, your eyes tend to blink less frequently. This can make dryness worse, so it is important to try and remember to blink regularly whenever you feel your eyes are dry at work.
• Wear glasses. Make sure to wear sunglasses during any time you spend outdoors. They will help protect your eyes from the drying effects of the cold wind.

Always wear your sunglasses when hitting the slopes.

Reflected UV rays are a danger in winter too

Thinking about going skiing, ice-skating or enjoying any other outdoor winter activity? Don’t forget your shades! Just like water reflects the sun’s harmful UV rays while you’re at pool or beach during the warmer months, so does snow or ice significantly increase the amount of UV exposure your eyes experience in winter. Ultraviolet light damages the eye’s surface, causing an inflammation of the cornea called keratitis, and may require treatment with antibiotic eye drops to prevent infection. Symptoms include redness, pain, and sensitivity to light. In its most extreme form, “snow blindness” can cause temporary or even long-term vision loss. Extensive exposure to UV light is also a major contributing factor in the formation of cataracts, a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. 

How can you protect your eyes?

• Shield them. Freshley fallen snow has an almost 100% reflection rate, meaning your eyes are exposed to nearly a full dose of UV light from both above and below. Wearing polarized sunglasses with a minimum of UV400 protection will block harmful UVA and UVB rays from damaging your eyes. Make sure to have the entire family wear sunglasses. Cataracts result from cumulative damage, so even children should wear shades on bright winter days. If you’re hitting the slopes, make sure your goggles have polycarbonate lenses with UV protection.
• Keep the outdoor time short. If you forgot to wear your sunglasses or goggles, limit the time you spend outdoors to no more than a few hours on sunny or bright overcast days.