Battling the Cold Weather: Protect Your Eyes

Winter is finally here! It’s the season of festivities, but it is also the season that can cause the most harm.

Yes, you may now be more cautious when driving or when choosing what to wear, but it’s even more important to protect your eyes as well from the potential hazards of winter conditions.

Here’s some things you should start being aware of:

You may experience dryness in your eyes due to the low humidity caused by the cold outdoor air. The strong winds can cause your eyes to lose their natural moisture leaving them feeling sore with potential feelings of pain and discomfort.
Vision changes can also occur. When you are in extremely low temperatures for long periods of time, the blood vessel in and around your eyes restrict and this constriction can cause vision changes such a blurriness and double vision. If you notice vision changes while out in the cold, move to a warm area as soon as possible to correct your vision. If your normal vision doesn’t return after a short period of time, you should seek medical attention as your eyes may not be able to correct themselves.

If you are planning on going away, say for example to take part in skiing, you may find that you will need to consider UV protection. As like summer days, winter days can be so bright that they do start to damage your eye, especially if they are constantly exposed. Snow and ice are reflective, so the sun’s ultraviolet rays can reach your eyes from below as well as above. Not wearing UV-blocking glasses or eye wear alike can prevent photokeratitus aka sunburn on your eye

So, what should you do?
When the winter days are extra bright, wear sunglasses every day to prevent UV-ray exposure
Keep eye drops on standby for if/when your eyes become dried out or irritated by cold, drying winds. Use moisturizing drops will help to keep them lubricated
Use a humidifier at work and at home or try opening windows for a few minutes on cold days to help with your dry eyes
If you are due a sight test, make sure you go, to ensure you have the best vision possible during the winter
If your symptoms remain persistent be sure to book an appointment with an eye specialist who can advise you on what you can do.