As with the rest of our body’s routine, our eye care may need to change up a bit when cold weather comes around. Winter eye health can mean taking extra precautions to ensure our eyes are protected from the elements.
Just like in summer, whether you use contacts or glasses, it’s important to ensure your eyes have what they need to brave the cold temperatures. We’ve got a few tips for you for cold weather eye care below.
Cold Weather Eye Care – Tips to Protect Your Eyes in Winter
When the outside temps drop, indoor temps tend to rise a little bit. This changes the humidity in the air, and it exposes our eyes to abrupt changes in temperature. You also have to consider the UV radiation that comes from direct light reflecting off snowy and icy surfaces. Keeping your eyes clean, moist and protected requires a bit more persistence in the colder months.
- Hygiene – It may sound silly, but for many, winter brings on holiday parties and much merriment. When enjoying the company of loved ones, we sometimes slack in our daily routine. Colder months are when many take vacation time, so being lazy and letting go of some of your hygienic habits go. This can mean possibly going to bed without washing your face, or even washing your hands less. This in turn means if you rub your eyes or brush your face, you’re spreading bacteria where it shouldn’t be!
- Stay away from heat sources – This is a big one when talking about winter eye health. Heat sources such as space heaters, open fires, or furnace vents sure feel nice, but that direct heat so near your open eyes can dry them out pretty quickly.
- Protect your eyes – When the conditions are snow covered outside, wearing UV protected sunglasses is a must. If you’re hitting the slopes for any winter outdoor activities, make sure you use UV protected goggles. Not only is it important to protect your eyes from the sun, but from snow or particles you may come in contact with while on the move or in case of a fall.
- Keep your eyes moist – You can utilize lubricating eye drops to help keep your eyes moist. You may also want to consider eating a healthy diet heavy in omega-3 fatty acids. These healthy fats can boost your overall eye function, and keep them healthy year round. Drinking plenty of water is also a great way to make sure your body can keep your eyes moisturized.
- Tools to help keep your eyes moist – Utilizing a humidifier, as well as artificial tears can help keep your eyes moist. You can also try and regulate temperatures indoors to keep your transition from indoors to outdoors less abrasive.
- Take precautions when driving – Make sure your windshield is clean, that your headlights are in good working condition, and take steps to add an anti-reflective coating to your glasses if you wear them full time. If you don’t already wear glasses but know you have trouble seeing at night while driving, now is a good time to speak to your eye doctor.
Monitoring your eye health in winter doesn’t have to be a challenge. It just takes a bit more vigilance to ensure your eyes stay healthy year round. Have further questions? Please book an appointment with the team at Yonge & College Optometry. Call us on (647) 748-3937 or click here to request an appointment online.
