Winter can be a magical season filled with snowflakes, cozy sweaters, and warm drinks. But for many, it also brings an unwelcome guest, watery eyes and subsequent dry eyes.
While dry eye is a chronic condition that can be experienced all year round, the dry, airy, and cold winter environment aggravates ongoing symptoms.
Fortunately, from over-the-counter solutions to home remedies and lifestyle changes, dry eye can be effectively managed with:
- Artificial tears
- A balanced diet rich in omega-3s
- Eye ointments
- Humidifiers
- Staying hydrated
- Warm compress masks
- Limiting screen time
- UV-sunglass protection
Understanding Dry Eyes
Dry eye disease is a common chronic condition affecting around 20 million Americans. It refers to the dry, gritty, almost burning sensation that individuals may experience on their eye’s surface.
Dry eye disease primarily affects the eye’s tear film, responsible for keeping your eyes hydrated. This film consists of three layers. A problem with any of these layers can affect tear production, leading to dry eyes.
There are two main types of dry eye disease:
- Aqueous Tear-deficient Dry Eye: Where the body does not produce sufficient tears to maintain a healthy eye surface.
- Evaporative Dry Eye: Where deficiencies in the oil glands along the eyelids reduce necessary oil secretion to prevent tear evaporation, resulting in tears evaporating too quickly from the eye’s surface.
Understanding which type of dry eye you have is important because it helps discern the appropriate treatment necessary to provide long-term relief.
The sensation of dry eyes can vary between individuals; common symptoms include:
- Redness
- Burning
- Blurry vision
- Watery eyes
- Gritty or sandy feeling in the eye
Dry eyes can develop from several factors, including environmental conditions. For instance, cold, dry, windy climates can increase tear evaporation, further aggravating dryness.
The severity of dry eyes can range from a mild annoyance to a serious issue impacting daily activities and overall quality of life. While many experience periodic dry eye symptoms, for some, it can lead to more significant complications, including eye infections or damage to the cornea if left untreated.
Therefore, managing dry eyes is necessary not only for comfort but also for preserving long-term eye health and good vision.
How Winter Impacts Dry Eyes
Winter brings a unique set of environmental conditions that can exacerbate dry eye symptoms.
Cold air holds less moisture than warm air, leading to lower humidity levels. This dryness in the air can cause the moisture on the eye’s surface to evaporate more quickly, leaving your eyes feeling irritated and uncomfortable.
Cold weather conditions mean an increase in indoor heating systems, further depleting the moisture in the air, and making the situation worse.
In regions like Connecticut, winters are particularly harsh.
The biting cold combined with strong winds can strip away the natural oils that protect your eyes’ tear film. This leads to increased tear evaporation and, paradoxically, watery eyes.
Watery eyes are a common symptom of dry eyes. Your eyes try to compensate for this dryness by producing more tears. However, they often aren’t the right kind of tears needed to keep your eyes properly lubricated.
Winter elements such as snow glare and increased use of digital screens for indoor entertainment, to escape from the cold, can also contribute to dry eyes.
The snow’s bright reflection of snow can cause you to squint more, leading to increased eye strain. Prolonged screen time leads to digital eye strain, and reduces blink rates, which is necessary for spreading tears evenly across your eyes.
Additionally, during the chilly winter months, many individuals turn to decongestants for a quick solution to relieve nasal congestion associated with colds and flu. These medications can effectively clear up a stuffy nose, but they have an unintended side effect of worsening dry eye symptoms.
All these combined factors exacerbate dryness, making winter a challenging season for those prone to dry eyes.
Winter Dry Eye Relief
While chilly winter months can aggravate dryness, dry eye relief can be implemented all year round.
From over-the-counter solutions to lifestyle changes, these therapies can be combined to provide effective long-term relief from winter dryness.
- Artificial Tears: Use preservative-free artificial tears to help lubricate the eyes as needed throughout the day. These drops mimic the composition of natural tears by adding moisture to the eye’s surface to reduce friction and irritation.
- Balanced Diet: A balanced diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids has anti-inflammatory properties and can enhance tear production.
- Eye Ointment: For additional moisture, apply a preservative-free eye ointment to the lash line before bedtime to prevent dryness throughout the night. The ointment is similar to a thick cream and will make your vision slightly blurry, hence why applying it before bed is ideal.
- Humidifier: Using a humidifier in your home can add much-needed moisture to the air, preventing your eyes from drying out.
- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to promote overall hydration. Aim to drink about 8 to 10 glasses of water a day!
- Warm Compress: Use a warm compress over your eyes and gently massage around the area for a few minutes. This helps to loosen any blockages in the oil glands, allowing the natural oils to flow more freely. This can improve the quality of your tears and reduce evaporation.
- Limit Screen Time: Minimize screen time and take breaks throughout the day to reduce eye strain and potential dryness caused by prolonged exposure to digital devices.
- Protect Your Eyes: Wear UV-protected sunglasses when venturing outdoors in the winter. These shield your eyes from cold winds, glare, and other winter elements. Plus, using a scarf to cover your nose and mouth can help warm the air you breathe, reducing the drying effect on your eyes.
Schedule a Consultation
In some cases, simple lifestyle changes can make a big difference in managing dry eyes. However, if irritation and discomfort continue, it may be time for advanced dry eye therapies.
Connect with our team at Higgins Brothers’ Vision Care to schedule a dry eye consultation and learn more about our advanced dry eye therapies.
