Your Guide to Winter Eye Care and Vision Protection  

You might think that spring and summer are the only challenging times of year for our eye health, with the summer sun and the spring pollen. However, winter is tricky, too. While winter is typically a wetter season, certain weather conditions like wind and cold can exacerbate dry eye symptoms.  

If you’re wondering how you can support your eye health this winter and keep your eyes hydrated, read on for six winter eye care tips. 

Drink Plenty of Water, Eat Superfoods 

Our bodies need plenty of water to run smoothly. Proper hydration keeps our organs healthy, flushes out toxins, delivers oxygen, and regulates our body temperature. Proper hydration helps our eyes remain properly lubricated and healthy. 

In addition, there are a number of nutrients that support eye health.

Make sure your winter diet includes things like:  

• Carrots 
• Pumpkin 
• Spinach 
• Kale 
• Fish 
• Citrus fruits 
• Egg 
• Seeds  
• Nuts 

Learn more about these superfoods and how they support eye health.  

Sunglasses Aren’t Just for Summer  

Those trusty sunglasses should stay in play, even when the summer fun is over. Our skin and our eyes continue to be affected by UV and UVA rays throughout the year. Even on a cloudy day, the sun’s rays can have damaging effects.  

In the same way light is magnified back to us off the surface of the water, sunshine reflected off the snow can pose a serious threat to our eyes. Wearing sun goggles on the slopes or anytime you’re enjoying the snow, will help protect your eyes from this damaging glare. 

Protect Your Eyes from Dry Eye Irritants  

In the winter, we may have more precipitation, but the reality is, we’re spending more time indoors with warm air blowing around us. This heated air in our homes and cars has a drying effect on our eyes, which can lead to dry eyes.  

In addition, the cold winter winds can also dry our eyes. Try to avoid heater vents, drafts, and winds, especially if you’re not wearing glasses, and still more if you wear contacts, which require moisture to move freely.  

What Are the Symptoms of Dry Eyes?  

When you have dry eyes, you may feel sensations of stinging, burning, scratchiness, and graininess (as though something foreign is in them). Your eyes may also be extra light-sensitive, or prone to redness, watering, or discharge.  

If you have dry eye, you may also notice that you are experiencing more eye fatigue, difficulty wearing contacts, and decreased ability to see at night. Left unchecked, dry eyes can be incredibly uncomfortable, and even interfere with your quality of life. 

Use a Humidifier at Home 

One way to avoid eye irritation, but still enjoy the warmth from our heaters is with a home humidifier. In addition to helping keep our eyes from drying out, it also helps with our skin and all of our mucous membranes, which can get very dry in the winter, including in places like our eyes, noses, airways, and lungs.  

Give Your Eyes Some TLC 

If you are experiencing common winter eye irritation or mild dry eye symptoms there are plenty of home remedies that can provide some relief. 

Eye Drops 

It’s a good idea to keep lubricating drops on hand at home and while you are on the go: in the car, in a purse or pocket, in a desk at work, etc.  

Blink More 

The more we blink, the more tears we produce. While engaged in activities such as watching a screen or reading, we tend to blink less. Limiting screen time and looking away and remembering to blink often will help.  

Warm Compresses 

Using a warm, moist compress can help keep your eyes hydrated and soothe any discomfort, itching, mild burning, and more.  

Schedule a Comprehensive Eye Exam at NeoVision Eye Center 

In addition to supporting your eye health with proper hydration, a healthy diet, and avoiding common seasonal eye irritants, the winter season is a great time to get a comprehensive eye exam. Regular eye exams can detect a myriad of eye conditions and diseases that could otherwise go undetected and grow in severity.  

At NeoVision Eye Center, we have proudly helped protect and improve the vision of our Bay Area patients for over 20 years. Our expert ophthalmologists have experience diagnosing and treating eye diseases and optical issues in children, adults, and seniors. Fill out the form below to schedule an exam at our Union City office.