5 Activities to Avoid Dry Eye Problems in Winters
The variation in the temperatures inside your home and outside during the winter season can not only render your skin dry. However, it can also cause dryness and discomfort in your eyes1
The weather in the winter season is known to reduce the moisture in your eyes, which causes eye irritation and creates a burning or itching sensation in the eyes2. Remember, if you are dealing with any eye irritation, you should avoid rubbing your eyes as it can make things worse.
Before we talk tips and tell you how to avoid dryness in the eyes, you must understand why winter weather can be harsh on your eyes.
During winters, the temperature outside drops leading to dry cold air, whereas your indoor temperature is warm & dry due to heating devices2.The exposure to cold and/or warm dry air causes the eye to get dehydrated and may give rise to symptoms such as:
- Scratching or burning sensation
- Pain and redness of the eye
- Blurred vision
- Incidences of excess tears following very dry eye periods etc.
To help you stay secure and keep your eyes healthy, here are some activities to avoid dryness problems in your eyes during winter:
1. Avoid Resting/Sitting Directly In Front Of A Heat Source
During the colder months2, the warmth from a fireplace or a heater sure feels nice and cozy. However, the heat blowing onto your face is made up of dry air, which can dry out your eyes.
A simple way to avoid eye dryness due to hot air is to make sure that you avoid sitting directly in front or too close to the heat source. It will keep your eyes naturally moist as now the dry, hot air won’t irritate your eyes.
2. Avoid Scratching and Rubbing Your Eyes
To rub your already irritated eyes is probably the worst thing to do. It sure is tempting to rub out any itch, but rubbing your eyes continuously can harm the thin blood vessels present in and around the eyes. You can also end up damaging your cornea in the process5.
Alternatively, instead of vigorously rubbing your eyes, wash them with cold water. If the problem persists, consult with an eye care professional.
3. Avoid Going Out Without UV Protection
During the winter season, we enjoy the sun’s warmth. However, we tend to forget that excessive UV exposure through direct sunlight can increase the risk of developing cataracts and skin cancer6. Thus, it is recommended that you always use sunscreen and sunglasses if you plan to stay outdoors for long hours.
If you reside in a place where it snows during winter, you can get excess UV exposure due to reflection from snowy surfaces, which can harm your skin as well as your eyes.
4. Avoid Skipping Your Optometrist’s Appointment
Arguably, eyes are one of the most sensitive body organs. Yet, when it comes to prioritizing eye health, we tend to make excuses until the condition worsens. Regular eye check-ups are a must if you wear eyeglasses or like wearing contact lenses. Even if you are not using any prescription visual aids, you must get your eyes checked regularly7.
Suppose you experience dryness, irritation, and itchiness in your eyes due to the cold winter weather. In that case, you must consult an eye care professional immediately.
5. Avoid Overusing Digital Devices
Instead of keeping your eyes glued to laptops and other digital screens, take a break from them during winters. Refrain from sitting in front of a computer or spending hours over your smartphone for extended periods. Prolonged or extended exposure to digital screens is known to give rise to a syndrome known as Digital Eye Strain8.
During the winters, your eyes are more prone to dryness due to the cold air. To top that, if you spend long hours in front of your television or computer screen during the holiday season, you need to make sure that you limit the time you spend using digital devices.
At Bausch+Lomb, we are committed to delivering the best contact lenses wearing experience. Explore our range of contact lenses that are designed to provide superior vision and the highest possible comfort.
You can also explore Bausch+Lomb’s Ultra Contact lenses that are specifically designed to alleviate lens-related dryness in the eyes. Ultra-Contact Lenses are made with MoistureSeal Technology and offer high moisture retainability, which means your eyes stay moist and healthy.
Finding the Right Contact Lens
Wearing the right pair of contact lenses is imperative to maintain your eye health. Make sure that you consult with an optometrist first before choosing your contact lenses. You can discuss your digital screen exposure and get recommendations from your optometrist regarding the different types of contact lenses that can help you with dry eyes.
Additionally, if you enjoy wearing contact lenses for the benefits they offer, remember to follow your contact lens wear and care regimen diligently as prescribed by your eye care specialist. Developing little habits protect you from long term severities.
Explore Daily Disposable Contact Lenses
Unlike bi-weekly, monthly, and annually disposable contact lenses, daily disposables contact lenses don’t demand regular cleaning and maintenance. You wear daily disposable contact lenses only once, meaning one time only, and then you dispose of them. When you are wearing your contact lenses again in the morning, you will be using a new and fresh pair.
With daily disposable contact lenses, you don’t deal with any deposits and build-up, which means they are safe to use and reduced the chances of any eye infections9.
Additionally, daily disposable contact lenses may deliver a more comfortable and fresh feeling experience all day long. You don’t spend any time handling your contact lenses, yet you enjoy the precise vision and keep your eyes healthy.
Find the Best Contact Lenses
Wearing contact lenses pose little to no threats if you know how to use them correctly, as advised by your eye care specialist. There’s no one-size-fits-all possibility when it comes to wearing contact lenses.
Explore Bausch+Lomb’s Biotrue ONEday Daily disposable contact lenses that offer comfortable wear throughout the day.
What’s more? Biotrue ONEday Daily disposables also provide UV protection against the harmful sun rays. Although, it is advised that you use sunglasses to double up your UV protection. Made with patented Bausch+Lomb’s HyperGel material, Biotrue ONEday disposable contact lenses empower you with consistently comfortable, precise, and clear vision.
Depending on your lifestyle and vision requirements, you can explore different types of contact lenses and select one that suits you the best. Remember to get in touch with your eye care specialist first!
Sources:
[1] https://www.uabmedicine.org/-/cold-weather-woes-and-dry-eyes
[2] & [3] https://www.aoa.org/news/clinical-eye-care/winter-dry-eye
[4] https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/how-can-i-tell-whats-causing-my-dry-eye
[5] https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/corneal-conditions
[6] https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/effects-of-uv-radiation-on-eye-immune-system-and-skin
[7] https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/healthy-vision/keep-your-eyes-healthy
[8] https://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/eye-and-vision-problems/glossary-of-eye-and-vision-conditions/dry-eye
[9] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8906382/
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