Winter brings along a host of eye problems. From frosty winds, to cold weather, to warm air blowing from heating systems indoors, dryness often manifests in the form of irritation and discomfort in eyes. It may cause disturbance to your normal ocular fluid, thereby causing itching, watery discharge, or blurred vision. While it is indeed common in winters, so dry eye is quite rampant, the good news here is that with a proper strategy, one can protect the eyes all along with a smooth winter.
Once the winter months are rolled in, people begin to experience common symptoms of eye discomfort such as gritty or gritty sensation, chronic discomfort, aching, or burning. All this leads to occasional blurriness.
These symptoms occur due to the combination of outdoor conditions: low humidity, low temperature, dry winds and indoor heating drying out the air. All of these evaporate the tear film that usually keeps the eyes well hydrated, making it easier to cause irritation and discomfort.
Some of the easiest measures one can take to help protect their eyes and minimize irritation and strain in winter includes:
1. Use lubricating eye drops
Lubricating eye drops mimic natural tears to provide relief from dryness. Opt for preservative-free or gel-based drops for longer-lasting moisture. If symptoms persist, consult an eye doctor for recommendations.
2. Wear UV-protective glasses outdoors
Even in winter, UV rays may be harmful. When reflected off snow, they can be dangerous. Sunglasses with UV protection are needed to shield eyes from both climate influences such as wind that may dry up the eyes as well as UV rays.
3. Humidify indoors
Dry air caused by low indoor heat dries out eyes more quickly. Make sure to place a humidifier in the rooms that you are most spending time.
4. Regular eye breaks with screen use
Spending too many hours in front of the screen may result in dryness as well as eye strain. Use the 20-20-20 Rule: For every 20 minutes, a person should look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This helps ease digital eye fatigue.
5. Avoid sitting near heaters
Heaters increase air evaporation which may potentially dry out your eyes. Avoid sitting too close to heaters and position the airflow of the heater away from the face to reduce the discomfort.
6. Maintain hygiene
Cold weather brings along the threat of infection like pink eyes. Practice proper hygiene and don’t touch the eyes with dirty hands as this will lower the chances eye infections.
7. Warm compress
Apply warm compress to the eyelids to increase oil gland activity around the eyes, which helps keep tear film balanced.
It is easy to take the necessary steps to target discomfort of the eyes and also maintain eye health during the winter. However, if one is experiencing prolonged discomfort, meeting an eye care specialist is advisable to ensure eyes are protected all season long.
Dr. Saptagirish Rambhatla, Unit Head, Sankara Eye Hospital, Varanasi
