As the weather turns colder and the nights grow longer, it’s important to take care of our vision and eye health, as certain conditions can arise as the seasons change.
For many of us, winter is the perfect time for movie marathons and lashings of hot chocolate, but many don’t realise that the colder months can cause eye health miseries too.
The harsh winds, combined with colds and flu, drying central heating and glare from the winter sun can cause problems for our vision.
Pharmacist Sultan Dajani from Golden Eye has revealed how the dropping temperatures can damage our eyesight.
Dry conditions
When the weather outside is cold, the air around us becomes drier.
“When this happens, the surface of the eye, which is mainly water, loses moisture due to evaporation," Sultan explained.
“This can cause the eye to become dry and produce insufficient tears to keep the eyes moist. It is important to keep our eyes and surroundings moist to reduce the symptoms of dry eyes.”
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Central heating
While many of us turn the heating on to stay warm, it can actually make dry eyes feel worse.
“Don’t rub your eyes as you risk making them sore and introducing bacteria, which can cause conjunctivitis, blepharitis or styes,” warned the expert.
“Try not to overheat rooms where possible, open windows each day, even if only for a few minutes.”
Sultan recommends buying eye drops from the pharmacy that are designed specifically to relieve eye health infections, and wear contact lenses less.
Wear sunglasses
Snow and ice are reflective, which means that the sun’s rays can reach you from below as well as above.
Ultraviolet rays (UV) are reflected off the surface of the snow, which can cause sunburn, called photokeratitis, of the eye.
Sultan said: “This means that sunglasses can be just as important in the winter as in the summer.
“Furthermore, the low sun in winter can be dazzling, so take special care, especially when driving so don your sunnies.
“If you wear glasses, ask about having an anti-reflective coating added to the lenses to help avoid glare, particularly when driving.”
Good lighting is important
It is important to prioritise good lighting during the darker months, especially for people who work from home.
Dim lighting can cause eyestrain and make your eyes feel tired quicker, which can also impact productivity.
The pharmacist added: “Try and sit close to a window during the day if you need to see something clearly, like the text in a book or magazine, but try and avoid light glaring on your screen if you are working on a computer or laptop.
“Use multiple light sources in a room to increase the amount of light without relying on a super bright overhead light and consider warm light bulbs over cool blue type bulbs to create a more natural feel.
“Also use lamps with directed light for tasks like reading and writing.”
20-20-20 rule
It can be tempting to submerge ourselves in laptops, phones, and tablets when we spend more time indoors, but this can be damaging.
Sultan explained: “Staring at digital devices for long periods of time can cause headaches and tired or dry eyes.
“Take regular breaks away from your screen by looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.”
Eat a balanced diet
Your eyes are complex organs that need many different vitamins and nutrients to function properly.
“Vitamins A, C, E, B vitamins, lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 are all important for eye health,” Sultan says.
The pharmacist recommends adopting a balanced diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein, and healthy fats.
It is also important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.
Keep your hands clean
Colds and flu can affect our eyes, causing pain and soreness along with the temptation to rub them often.
The health guru added: “If you are unwell, always make sure you keep your hands clean after blowing your nose or coughing and try not to rub your eyes.
“This is especially important if you wear contact lenses.”
Party season
Wintertime often brings with it lots of social occasions, especially around Christmas and the New Year.
When getting party-ready, remember to wash your makeup brushes regularly, pay attention to the use-by dates on your eye products and don’t ever share.
Sultan warned: “Sharing your products and brushes may seem like a lovely thing to do with your friends but, no matter how clean you or your friends are, your makeup and brushes may well be harbouring thousands of tiny bugs and germs.
“Once these get into your eyes, they can cause infections like conjunctivitis, blepharitis and styes, putting a huge dampener on your festive spirits.”
Daily eyecare routine
Sultan encourages people to adopt a regular eyelid routine to help keep infections at bay.
He said: “You should bathe your eyelids daily and apply gentle pressure with a flannel soaked in warm water for five to 10 minutes.
“This softens the skin and any crusts attached to the eyelids. Keep re-warming the flannel in hot water if it cools.
“Follow this with massaging your eyelids. With your eyes closed, gently press on the inner corners of your eyes to release any mucus-like fluid from the tiny glands there.”
