Winter is a time of year when many people experience dry eye. This happens because the air holds less humidity during the winter, and because air from furnaces can make the air even drier. Dry eye causes people's eyes to become itchy and red, and even leaves the eyes vulnerable to infection.
Avoid and treat dry eyes with a variety of tips. Here's what you need to know about protecting yourself from dry eye this winter.
Wear Glasses, Not Contacts
Contacts can dry out your eyes, so wearing contacts in winter when your eyes are already red and itchy can cause problems. If you normally wear contacts, switch to glasses for the winter. You can go back to contacts in the spring and summer when humidity returns.
Run the Humidifier
Run a humidifier in parts of your home where you spend the most time, or in parts of the home that are the driest. The bedroom and living room are good candidates for the humidifier.
If you spend a lot of time in your home in the winter and you also have money for a major home improvement, talk to a contractor about having a whole house humidifying system installed. This will make your entire home more comfortable in the future.
Drink lots of water throughout the winter. This makes it easier for your body to produce tears. Drink at least 8 eight-ounce glasses of water daily. If you're an athlete and you're spending a lot of time working out, you may need to drink more. Consume sports drinks to replace electrolytes that are lost throughout the day.
Keep Distance From Heat Sources
Heat sources can be very drying, especially for your eyes. Avoid sitting next to heat sources that blow in your face. If you must sit next to a heat source, blink your eyes more than normal to keep hydrating the surface of your eyes.
When in the car, blow the heat down toward your body and away from your eyes. You can also turn on the heat vents near your feet and turn off the heat vents near your face.
Avoid Rubbing Your Eyes
Rubbing your eyes exacerbates your problem, especially if your hands are dirty. In fact, rubbing your eyes with dirty hands could even lead to an infection. If your eyes are very itchy and you feel like you must rub them, protect your eyes by using a tissue instead of your hands.
Use Artificial Tears
Artificial tears help keep your eyes moist. Use artificial tears throughout the day every time your eyes start to feel itchy and dry. Artificial tears can be purchased from a store without a prescription.
See Your Eye Doctor
If the artificial tears aren't enough to keep you comfortable, see your eye doctor about your problem. Your eye doctor may be able to prescribe a more powerful remedy that helps you maintain moist, healthy eyes. Prescription eye drops moisten the eyes while also treating the underlying physical issues creating your dry eyes.
Your eye doctor can also check for any other conditions that could be causing your eyes to be dry. If your doctor discovers a problem causing the problem, the eye doctor can prescribe other treatments and medications to help.
For more information about why dry eye occurs in winter and what else you can do about it, contact a qualified and experienced eye doctor in your area. At Family Eye Care, we'll be happy to answer your questions about the various conditions you might experience in winter and throughout the year. Call us today to learn more.