Will Cold Weather Make Dry Eye Worse?

December 20th, 2019

Now that we are out of the fall allergy season, you may be looking forward to some relief for your itchy eyes. While pollen counts do go down during the winter, you now have a new challenge to face: dry winter air.

Your environment plays a huge role in the development of dry eye. Allergens, pollution, dust, and smoke are some of the airborne irritants that you have to watch out for.

A simple lack of moisture can also make it difficult for your eyes to stay hydrated. If tears evaporate from the surface of your eye too quickly, they cannot nourish the eye.

This worsens your dry eye and only results in the continuation of your dry eye symptoms. Keep reading for a few tips on how to handle your dry eye this winter!

1. Go See Your Eye Doctor

Regular checkups and appointments are just as important for your eyes as they are for the rest of your body. Keeping your doctor up to date on the current state of your vision is a good idea.

This allows them to educate you on any vision problems and keep an eye on your vision. It also lets them treat you for any conditions that you may have, including dry eye syndrome.

You can schedule an appointment at Laser Eye Center and get your dry eye under control!

2. Stay Hydrated

Tears are mostly comprised of water. It should not be surprising that keeping yourself hydrated is a great way to combat dry eye.

While tears are an important part of your vision, your body will focus on other functions if it does not have an ample supply of water. Be sure to drink the recommended amount of water throughout the day, even if you are not feeling thirsty.

3. Buy A Humidifier

For winter, in particular, combating dry air at the source is important. These days, you can buy powerful humidifiers for a fairly modest price in stores or online.

Although you cannot humidify the air wherever you go, it is a good investment for your home or office. Consider buying a few for wherever you know you will spend the most time during the winter.

4. Use Eye Drops

As good as it feels, rubbing your eyes is not a good way to relieve itchiness. Not only is the relief that it provides very short-lived, but you can cause further damage to your eyes over time.

Instead, you should rely on eye drops to soothe your eyes. Not all eye drops are the same, so experiment and find out which ones are best for you.

High viscosity drops keep your eyes hydrated for longer periods of time. They also may make your vision blurry for several minutes. Lower viscosity eye drops will provide instant relief, though it will not last as long.

If your dry eye is a chronic issue, then you may need extra treatment. Schedule an appointment at the Laser Eye Center in Huntsville, AL today!

If your dry eye isn’t improving after trying the above tips, we will come up with a custom dry eye treatment plan for you.