Dry Eyes in Winter: 6 Ways To Prevent Them

  Last Updated on January 16, 2023 by Aaron Barriga

It comes as no surprise that the winter season transforms the outside world. It also makes us switch up our daily routines to prepare for the necessary changes that winter brings in.

However, when the chilling effects of the colder months are in full swing, your wardrobe is not the only change you need to make to prepare for the winters. Winters affect our bodies and health too. You need to be prepared for this change too.

From chapped lips, runny nose to frozen fingers, there is no escape to the inconvenience that you may experience in your day-to-day life. However, if there is one part of your body that receives the worst of the winter weather, it is your eyes.

The exposure to harsh winter winds can delay the production of fluids required to support the protective, liquid coating that our eyes require to stay hydrated. Result: Itchy eyes and dry eyes.

Your eyes may burn, you may suffer from blurry vision or even watery eyes to compensate for the dryness. While it may be difficult to resolve dry eyes completely, here are 6 tips to improve your eye health.

Tips to Prevent Dry Eyes in Winter time

1. 1. Keep your sunglasses on

If you are prone to dry eyes in winter, a great way to protect your eyes from winter dryness is to keep your sunglasses on. Keep them with you wherever you go.

2. 2. Keep your eyes moisturized

Winter dryness makes your eyes feel uncomfortable and dry. Many patients resort to over-the-counter eye drops for instant relief, but with a lot of products to choose from, you might damage your eyes even more.

To help your tear film work effectively, it is important to visit an ophthalmologist who can recommend the right eye drops best suited to your eye condition.

3. 3. Keep yourself hydrated

Keeping yourself hydrated is important to maintain healthy eyes. While coffee and tea are beverages that keep you going through the cold winter day, consuming too much caffeine may be dangerous.

Switch your habits up a little and consume healthy fluids such as green tea, earl grey tea, and lemon water that will prevent your body from dehydration. Along with being caffeine-free, these fluids will encourage you to consume more water.

4. 4. Soothe your eyes with a warm washcloth

Patients with dry eyes commonly experience tear secretion. Apply a warm washcloth on both your eyes to restore the right amount of moisture in your eyes. This also soothes irritated, itchy and swollen eyes.

Regular use of a warm washcloth will ease away the symptoms of dry eyes to significantly improve your vision.

5. 5. Follow a nutrition-rich diet

While we take care of our eyes externally, it is also important to keep yourself healthy from within. Consuming a nutrition-rich diet will protect your eyes from eye conditions like dry eyes and macular degeneration.

 Foods you should eat:

Omega-3 rich foods

5. 5. • Chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds
      • Flour, pasta, oatmeal
      • Kale, parsley, spinach
      • Salmon, tuna, trout, halibut
      • Palm oil, Soyabean oil

Potassium

5. 5. • Yogurt
      • Bananas
      • Soybeans
      • Sweet potatoes & potatoes

Quick fix for Dry Eyes

5. • Carrot & beet salad
   • Turmeric almond milk
   • Flourless banana pecan pancakes
   • Chicken chopped salad

6. 6. Take a break from screens

While it is inevitable to completely stay away from your computer screen, it is ideal to take breaks every hour to prevent dry eye syndrome.

Make sure you completely stay away from digital devices while taking a break. To start off, look outside the window and locate green objects. This will soothe your eyes.

If you are looking for experienced ophthalmologists in Fresno, visit Insight Vision to effectively treat your dry eyes.