Protecting your Eyes in the Winter

Many people are aware of the importance of wearing sunglasses during the summer to protect their vision. Fewer people, however, understand the impact that cold winter weather has on your eyes. There are multiple steps that you should take in order to protect your eyes throughout the cold months to keep them in the best possible condition. You rely on your vision daily to go about your life, so it is vital to take appropriate care of your eyes to keep them in optimal health, as well as ensure that you are able to see clearly throughout the winter.

Common Problems with Eyes in the Winter

There are many issues that can impact eyes during the winter months. One of the most common issues is dry eyes. Ultimately, warmer air has a higher capacity for holding moisture than cold air. When the air becomes cooler, it is less capable of holding moisture and, therefore, becomes dried out. This can cause both your skin and your eyes to dry out. Alternatively, watery eyes may become an issue in the cold winter months. This is often caused by the same issue. The dry air can cause eyes to overcompensate, providing tears to keep your eyes moisturized. Snow blindness is another common concern during the winter. UV rays reflect off of the snow, which can make it difficult to see on a sunny day. Wearing the appropriate gear can help to offset the problems consistent with snow blindness.

Use a Humidifier

The air in your home is likely to become much drier throughout the winter months. Adding a humidifier to your building can help to add more moisture into the air of your building. This will prevent the consistent dry air from drying out your eyes, keeping you much more comfortable throughout the winter. This can also be especially beneficial to your skin, which can also dry out excessively when the temperatures drop.

Point Heater Vents Away

The air from the heater of your car is often incredibly dry. Despite the higher temperatures, the heated air simply doesn’t have the opportunity to build up humidity. It is important to take care when you use the heater vents of your car. Refrain from having your heater vents pointed directly to your face to protect your eyes from the hot, dry air. This can go a long way toward preventing the eyes from drying out.

Eye Drops

As previously stated, dry eyes are one of the most common issues with the eyes during the winter. Keeping eye drops with you consistently can help to ensure that you can moisturize your eyes whenever the need arises.

Proper Sports Protection

There are multiple sports in the winter that require the use of protective equipment over the eyes. For one thing, snowboarding and skiing can result in significant amounts of possible debris that can damage your eyes. It is important to wear goggles whenever you engage in these activities. Many winter activities deal in exposure to snow and sunlight, which makes it important to use sunglasses.

Sunglasses

Most people wear sunglasses frequently in the summer months, but less often during the winter. However, it is vital to wear sunglasses in the winter, as well. In fact, snow reflects UV rays at a higher rate than even water, which can be incredibly detrimental to your vision. It is important to wear sunglasses in the winter to protect your eyes from UV rays caused by reflecting sunlight. There are many options available for sunglasses to ensure that you can obtain everything you need to protect your vision, no matter what the conditions outside are.

Consider Glasses Over Contacts

Your eyes will likely stay much drier in the winter months, which can make wearing contacts incredibly uncomfortable. In addition, dried out contacts can make it more difficult to see. Wearing glasses more often than contacts in the winter months can help to keep you more comfortable and allow you to see more clearly. However, you may want to ensure that your glasses have UV-ray protecting qualities.

Wear a Hat

A wide-brimmed hat can go a long way toward providing shade and protecting your eyes from the UV rays that reflect frequently from the sun. In addition, it is still important to wear sunscreen to protect your skin during winter, due to the extra reflection caused by snow.

Practice Good Hygiene

Pink eye is generally more common during the winter than other times of the year. This increases the importance of practicing good hygiene during this time. Make sure that you wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your eyes. This can prevent you from all of the negative effects that come from pink eye and other diseases of the eyes.

Visit your Optometrist

Seeing your optometrist regularly is an important component of keeping your eyes healthy. They will be able to find potential issues with the eyes in the early stages, which will make it much easier to treat them and protect your vision. If you are ever concerned regarding the health of your eyes, you should contact us and schedule an appointment for a thorough, effective eye exam.

Stay Hydrated

Many people drink less water during the winter months. However, this, in combination with the dry air, can lead to both the skin and the eyes becoming incredibly dried out. It is extremely important to ensure that you drink enough water and keep yourself hydrated during the winter. This will help to keep your eyes more moisturized, which can protect them from sustaining damage and keeping you far more comfortable.

Here at Wolcott’s Optical, we care about protecting the health of your eyes and ensuring that you are able to see clearly year round. We offer a large selection of glasses and sunglasses to provide you with the devices you need to be able to see clearly. Our expert team can help ensure that you are happy and able to optimize your vision. To learn more about how to keep your eyes healthy throughout the cold, dry winter months, contact us today!