Factors That Can Impact Your Vision and Eye Health in Winter

Winter is a time of the year that often brings many activities like skiing, snowboarding and other cold-weather sports. Unfortunately, it also brings factors that can affect your eye health and vision. Understanding these factors can help you protect your eyesight and enjoy all winter offers without worry or discomfort.

Complications of Cold Weather on Eye Health

During colder temperatures, your eyes may suffer several complications that warrant an eye exam.

• Dry Eyes: The cold weather often reduces the amount of moisture in the air, resulting in dry eyes for many people. Due to reduced humidity levels inside homes or offices and increased wind speeds, it can be difficult for tears to form normally. This can lead to irritation, redness, itching and burning sensations around the eyes that may cause further complications if left untreated. 

• Wind and Dust: During colder temperatures, wind gusts are much stronger than usual, which increases dust particles being blown into our eyes. This can cause irritation and potential damage to sensitive structures within our ocular areas, such as the conjunctiva (the white part) or cornea (the clear front layer). 

• Sun Glare: With sun glare reflecting off ice crystals in the sky combined with strong winds blowing snowflakes across areas where there should be little obstruction from sunlight, there is an increased risk for UV exposure. This can cause temporary issues such as headaches and long-term damage, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), over prolonged periods if protection isn’t taken seriously. 

Prevention Tips for Eye Health in Winter

Here’s what you can do to protect your eyes from the cold:

1. Wear Protective Eyewear: Wearing protective eyewear will help reduce exposure levels significantly while allowing us to see better under harsh conditions. Protective eyewear contains polarized lenses providing clearer images even when light reflects off surfaces like bodies of water or icy grounds.  We recommend investing in quality frames/lenses designed against UV radiation to keep your vision intact.

2. Hydrate: We suggest drinking plenty of fluids throughout days spent outdoors this season, not only because staying hydrated helps fight dryness caused by winds but also because a lack thereof could lead to negative impacts.

3. Take Breaks from Screens: Staring at screens for prolonged periods can cause eyestrain and fatigue, leading to redness, itchiness, dry eyes and other complications. Taking regular breaks from any digital device, especially when wearing contact lenses,  helps give your eyes a break so they can rest and recuperate more effectively.

4. Eat Nutritious Foods: Eating nutritious foods rich in vitamins and minerals, such as dark leafy greens, sweet potatoes and oily fish, is important because these substances can help strengthen eye structures against external factors like dryness and wind. They provide nutrients that benefit long-term vision health, reducing risks associated with certain conditions, including AMD (age-related macular degeneration) and cataracts.

5. Visit an eye exam doctor: If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above or if you have any questions about how to protect your eyes during winter, consult an eye doctor.

Need more information on eye health? Visit Lumen Optometric in Sierra Madre, CA. Our experienced and knowledgeable staff will be happy to help you find the best solutions for your needs. We offer services to ensure your eyes stay at optimum health, such as myopia management, neurolens therapy and orthokeratology. Call (626) 921-0199 or fill up our online form to schedule a consultation.