Here Are 6 Ways Winter Can Affect Your Eyes
Winter can be a beautiful time of year, with snowflakes falling from the sky and cozy fires warming up the house. But winter can also be a difficult season for your eyes. Cold temperatures, icy winds, and low humidity levels can all impact your vision and eye health.
It’s important to understand how the cold weather affects your eyes and what you can do to stay comfortable and healthy. Here are the six ways winter can affect your eyes and how our team of eye care physicians can help.
1. Dryness
Dry air can cause dry eyes, and dry eyes can be irritating. Dry air causes your eyes to become more sensitive to light – even on cloudy and snowy days. This can make your eyes more susceptible to irritation and infection, as well as redness and pain.
2. Redness
Cold temperatures and dry air can cause your eyes to become irritated, red, and even swollen. This is commonly known as “winter eye” or “winter burn.” When you experience this condition, the area around your eyes becomes inflamed and sometimes painful.
3. Vision Changes
Winter weather makes it easier for you to experience changes in your vision. Because of the low humidity and dry air, the cornea and lens of your eyes can become dry. This is why you should always wear eye protection outside in the winter. The dry air can also make it difficult for your eyes to focus, which is why you may squint or use more force than normal to read or drive.
4. Sun damage
Protecting your eyes from the sun is important all year long, but it’s even more important during winter. The sun’s rays are strong even in cold weather, which can affect your eyes. When you spend a lot of time outside in cold weather, your eyes are still at risk for sun damage.
The sun’s UV rays can damage your eyes and cause inflammation and redness. To protect your eyes from the harmful effects of UV rays, wear sunglasses with a high SPF (sun protection factor) to keep your eyes safe.
5. Light Sensitivity
Your eyes are designed to absorb and process light, providing you with vision. However, your eyes can be affected by light sensitivity during the winter months.
During the winter, sunlight reflects off snow and ice. If you spend a large amount of time outside in the snow, it can be hard on your eyes. Make sure to bring sunglasses or tinted goggles if you go skiing or hiking during the winter.
6. Excessive Tearing
Dry eyes are a common problem during winter. The cold air can dry out your eyes and make it more difficult for your eyes to produce tears. This is also why you may feel like there’s something in your eye when you’re outside, especially at night. This can cause you to overproduce tears, a problem called excessive tearing. Excessive tearing is a form of eye strain that can be uncomfortable and even painful.
Schedule an Appointment
Eyecare Physicians & Surgeons of New Jersey is a full-service eye care provider that can help you find relief from winter eye problems. To meet with our team and learn more about how to protect your vision during cold months, contact our New Jersey offices by calling or filling out our online contact form.