3 Winter Eye Hazards
The winter season, with the dry air, bright light, and diseases can present unique hazards for your eyes. Here are a few winter hazards you need to be aware of, as well as ways to fight back against them.
#1 Dry Eye
One of the biggest hazards to your eye health during the winter is dry eye. In the winter, it is easy to not drink enough water and get dehydrated, which can make your eyes feel dry. Artificial heating inside of buildings can also bring down the humidity levels, contributing to dry eye. Finally, cold winter winds when you are outside can quickly dry out your eyes as well.
The solution to winter dry eyes is multi fold. First, make sure that you are drinking enough water each day. Carry eye drops with you to keep your eyes lubricated. Add a humidifier to your home, and wear sunglasses when you go outside to protect your eyes.
#2 Sunburn
In the winter, especially if you live somewhere with snow, or you like to engage in snow sports, sunburn is a real concern. The light reflecting off of bright white snow can be really glaring and damaging and can actually burn your eyes.
That is why you should always wear sunglasses when you go outside, no matter the time of year. If you participate in outdoor winter sports, make sure to wear sports sunglasses or goggles with UV deflecting built in. Sun burnt eyes can be really uncomfortable and harmful if you frequently burn your eyes, so remember to protect your eyes when you go outside in the summer.
#3 Sickness
Finally, getting sick can be detrimental to your eyes. Having a cold or the flu can cause your eyes to get red and puffy. If you wear contacts, and you are fighting a cold or the flu, switch to glasses until you feel better.
Wearing glasses when you are sick just makes sense. Being sick can irritate your eyes, making wearing contacts uncomfortable. The danger of contaminating your eyes when you are sick increases, as does the risk of falling asleep with your contacts in. When you are sick, give your contacts a break and wear your glasses.
Winter presents some unique hazards for your eyes. Fight back against dry eyes by using eye drops, wearing sunglasses outside, and increasing the humidity in your home. Protect against sunburned eyes by wearing sunglasses or UV deflecting goggles when outside in the winter. When you get sick, try to keep your hands away from your eyes, and give your eyes a break by wearing glasses instead of contacts.
Contact a clinic, like Northwest Ophthalmology, for more help.
Share
