As winter arrives, many people overlook its impact on their eyes. This can lead to increased sensitivity and dry eyes in cold weather. Understanding the effects is important to protect our vision and enjoy winter without discomfort. Here is a list of the most common eye issues that may occur due to cold weather.
One of the most prevalent eye issues during cold weather is dry eyes. Cold air is typically dry, which causes natural tears to evaporate faster. This leads to dry, itchy, and irritating eyes. For those already prone to dry eyes, this discomfort can be even worse. It can result in persistent itching, burning sensations, and a gritty feeling. Use lubricating eye drops to keep your eyes comfortable and refreshed to combat dryness.
Blink Intensive Tears, featuring OcuPure technology, helps replenish moisture for your eyes and contact lenses. They closely mirror the composition of natural tears. The formula includes sodium hyaluronate, which enhances viscosity and offers long-lasting relief. With a convenient packaging of 20 single-use vials, these eye drops are perfect for on-the-go use.
Blink Intensive Tears, featuring OcuPure technology, helps replenish moisture for your eyes and contact lenses. They closely mirror the composition of natural tears. The formula includes sodium hyaluronate, which enhances viscosity and offers long-lasting relief. With a convenient packaging of 20 single-use vials, these eye drops are perfect for on-the-go use.
Exposure to cold wind can cause the tiny blood vessels on the surface of your eyes to constrict. This happens as your body tries to conserve heat, leading to redness and irritation. While eye redness is usually harmless, it can be a cosmetic concern for some individuals. This is a common issue during winter walks or outdoor activities.
Some people experience excess tearing during winter, unlike dry eyes. When cold air hits your eyes, they produce more tears to maintain moisture. This can lead to teary eyes. While it is not harmful, it can affect your vision if not handled properly.
A more common eye infection in winter is caused by bacterial infection - conjunctivitis (pink eye). It occurs due to the inflammation of the conjunctiva (transparent membrane that lines the eyelid and eyeball). In this situation, blood vessels in the conjunctiva get irritated and swell up, leading to pink eye.
However, pink eye in winter can also be caused by dirt, smoking, chlorine or allergens. This infection can last from 10 days to two weeks. It is highly recommended to see an ophthalmologist if you have symptoms like excessive watery eyes, redness, or discharge.
Let’s understand the different types of conjunctivitis.
Most cases of conjunctivitis during winter happen due to viral infections such as adenovirus. This virus typically gets active due to the common cold and can spread easily from person to person.
Bacterial conjunctivitis is rare, very contagious and easily spread by touch. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), this type of conjunctivitis is more common in children than adults.
Allergic conjunctivitis is non-contagious. It is a reaction caused by dust, smoke, pollen from plants and trees and animal dander. Certain types of perfume, cosmetics or medications can also trigger eye allergies.
Snow reflects a significant amount of UV radiation, which can harm your eyes. Snow blindness, or photokeratitis, is a painful condition caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. This often occurs when sunlight reflects off the snow. It can occur during cold, sunny days when people spend a lot of time outdoors without eye protection. Symptoms of snow blindness include extreme sensitivity to light, blurred vision, and a gritty feeling in the eyes. To prevent snow blindness, wear sunglasses with UV protection. You can find UV sunglasses from top brands at great prices at Feel Good Contacts, with superfast delivery.
Contact lens wearers might experience discomfort in cold weather. Lenses often dry out and become uncomfortable because of the lower moisture in the air. It's important to keep your lenses clean and hydrated with the right solution for your lens type.
comfi All-in-One Solution is the ideal companion for hassle-free contact lens care this winter. With this solution, say goodbye to the hassle of carrying out multiple solutions. The All-in-One Solution gently washes away dirt and debris from your contact lenses while keeping them moist. comfi All-in-One Solution simplifies your lens care routine, offering thorough cleaning and maintaining lens moisture.
comfi All-in-One Solution is the ideal companion for hassle-free contact lens care this winter. With this solution, say goodbye to the hassle of carrying out multiple solutions. The All-in-One Solution gently washes away dirt and debris from your contact lenses while keeping them moist. comfi All-in-One Solution simplifies your lens care routine, offering thorough cleaning and maintaining lens moisture.
Here’s how you can protect your eyes during winter to maintain your eye health.
To maintain your eye health, you can try out some home remedies below.
Using a humidifier adds moisture to indoor air. It can be helpful if you mostly use a CPAP machine. You just need to keep it by your bed when you sleep. It comes in small, portable, and central types.
Whenever you feel stressed or experience heavy strain on your eye area, an eye massage can help oil in your glands to flow better, it also improves blood circulation in the eyes.
Most of the time, eye health in cold weather can be easily prevented with at-home remedies. If eye problems persist, make sure to visit an eye care professional as soon as possible. At Feel Good Contacts, we are all about keeping your eyes happy during these frosty months. Our high-quality eye drops, glasses, and UV sunglasses protect and clean your eyes against biting winds and terrible glare. It adds flair to your winter eye essentials. Enjoy winter while keeping your eyes hydrated, sharp, and clear.
Yes. Cold weather can dry out your eyes and can potentially cause vision problems.
To protect your eyes from cold wind, opt for wrap-around style sunglasses that reduce the amount of wind entering the eyes while protecting it from harmful UV rays.
Drink enough water, use lubricating eye drops and consult your eye professional if the redness persists over a long period of time.
To protect your eyes from harmful UV rays and prevent serious conditions like photokeratitis, you can wear sunglasses in winter to maintain your eye health.
Disclaimer: The advice in this article is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical care or an in-person check-up. Please check with an eye care professional before purchasing any products. For information on our article review process, please refer to our Editorial Policy.