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  • Lifestyle

Managing Your Dry Eyes in Winter

  • Last updated December 12, 2022

5 min read

Heather Cottrell
Written byHeather Cottrell
Jovi Boparai, MD
Reviewed by Jovi Boparai, MD
Heather Cottrell
Heather Cottrell

Bio

Since becoming a Certified Health Coach in 2005, researching and creating content to help people live longer, healthier lives is my passion. As a content creator and online marketing coach for health coaches, I spend most of my time working on screens. Keeping my eyes healthy is important not just to my work, but to my life!

Get to know me a little better!

Hobby: creating content
Food: is coffee a food? ;)
Superhero: Wonder Woman
Guilty pleasure: bingewatching my favorite shows
Secret power: learning online tech quickly

Training:

Undergraduate: Fordham University
Health and wellness training: Institute for Integrative Nutrition

Jovi Boparai, MD
Jovi Boparai, MDCo-founder & CEO of CorneaCarePhiladelphia, PA

Bio

Dry eye disease is tough! I get it. I have struggled with dry eyes for several years from contact lens use, and from spending countless hours looking at computer screens. In college, my dry eyes got so bad that I couldn’t wear contact lenses, because of a constant “foreign body sensation” when I had them in. I had to stop reading every 30 minutes because my eyes would start to burn and my vision would get blurry. I tried a plethora of treatments and nothing seemed to work. Dry eye disease was not only impacting my eyes, but also my emotional wellbeing. It was preventing me from enjoying life, and getting in the way of my professional training. I felt overwhelmed, frustrated and hopeless.

It was only when I realized that my dry eyes were linked to my lifestyle, environment and overall health did things start to make sense. I noticed that on days when I spent less time on the computer, my eyes felt better. My symptoms would flare when it was windy, or when there was low humidity. I knew that if I wanted to get ahead of my dry eyes, I needed to not only treat my eyes, but to also address my lifestyle. I started a consistent regimen of artificial tears and eyelid hygiene. I switched from monthly contact lenses to daily contact lenses. I started taking scheduled breaks from looking at a computer. I ate a healthier diet focused on anti-inflammatory/antioxidants foods, and I bought a humidifier for my room. In the beginning doing all this seemed impossible, but over time it became part of my usual routine. Not only did my eyes feel better, but I was overall healthier and happier! Turns out what is good for my eyes, was also good for my mind and body. I carried this lesson with me as I started my career to become an ophthalmologist and ophthalmic surgeon.

Because of my personal journey and professional training, I believe dry eye treatment starts by listening to and empowering the patient. I listen for the struggles and cue in on their strengths, while picking up on their lifestyle. Only then do we together start building a treatment plan that incorporates good eye hygiene with small, but impactful lifestyle changes. Our sight is our most important sense, and it is intimately linked to our very being. I want dry eye patients to not only get their dry eyes under control, but to also enjoy good mental and physical health, and live a fulfilling life. What is good for the eyes should also strengthen the mind and fortify the body!

Get to know me a little better!

Hobby: vintage watches
Food: peanut butter
Superhero: Superman
Guilty pleasure: desserts
Secret power: has never had a headache

Training:

Undergraduate: University of Pittsburgh Honors College
Medical school: Weill Cornell Medicine
Ophthalmology residency: Wills Eye Hospital.

How to manage dry eyes in the winter

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Table of Contents

If you experience uncomfortable dry eyes in winter, you’re not the only one. Winter can be the worst time of year for dry eye sufferers.1

The cold, windy months of winter can cause and exacerbate dry eye symptoms, both indoors and out. The air outside gets drier as temperatures drop, causing loss of moisture in your eyes due to evaporation. While indoors, the dry air from heaters can lead to dry eyes inside.1

In many cases, symptoms of dry eye disease are worse in winter. This article will explore the many reasons dry eyes are worse in winter, and steps you can take to prevent and treat the symptoms.

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What Causes Dry Eyes in Winter

Dry eye is a very common eye health condition, affecting millions of adults. Dry eye disease has a variety of causes and tends to be prevalent during the cold winter months because of the low humidity causing drier air around you.1

Causes of dry eye disease

Dry eyes in winter are caused by conditions that impact your eye health whether you are outside in the cold or exposed to indoor heating.

Outdoors, exposure to cold temperatures and wind impact your eye health during the winter. When you head indoors to get out of the cold, your eyes are met with heated, dry air thanks to the use of heaters.

Moisture on the surface of your eyes is vital to your eye health. Dry eyes are caused by tear film instability, which results in surface moisture and lubrication evaporation. In dry climates and during winter months, there is an increased risk for dry eye syndrome because the tear film becomes unstable and less effective in protecting the cornea.2

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During the winter months, or in dry climates year-round, the risk of dry eye disease increases. Studies show that weather has a major impact on dry eye symptoms, with winter and spring being the hardest months for dry eye sufferers.3,4

A lack of tear production can also lead to dry eyes if there are not enough tears to keep the eye moist. This is also related to dry conditions and dehydration.

Other causes of dry eye disease include aging, genetics, smoking, LASIK surgery, and the use of contact lenses.2

Symptoms of Dry Eyes in Winter include:

  • Dryness2
  • Blurred vision
  • Burning or itchy eyes
  • Light sensitivity
  • Eye fatigue
  • Contact lens discomfort
  • Red eyes
  • Watery eyes
  • Gritty feeling
  • Foreign object sensation
  • Difficulty blinking
Key symptoms of dry eye disease

Caring for Dry Eyes In Winter

Dry eyes are a common occurrence in colder, winter months because of the dry climate and low humidity.5

Preventing Dry Eyes in Winter at Home and Work

A few changes to your indoor heating choices can help ease or prevent dry eyes in winter.

  • Avoid excess heat. It’s understandable that you’ll put the heat up as the days and nights grow cold, but try not to overdo it. Keep your home a little cooler and wear a sweater during the day, and an extra blanket at night.
  • Don’t sit or sleep close to heating air vents or fans, as the forced indoor air will dry and irritate your eyes. Don’t use a hairdryer for long periods, and never point it directly at the eyes.
  • Use a humidifier at home and work. Both warm and cool mist humidifiers add moisture to the air, easing symptoms of dry eyes as well as other common winter ailments such as nasal congestion, allowing you to sleep better at night. Good rest is important for your eyes too!
  • Avoid smoke as much as possible, including secondhand cigarette smoke and wood stoves.
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Preventing Dry Eyes in Winter Outdoors and While Driving

There are a number of ways to protect your eyes outdoors and while driving. 

  • Remember to wear sunglasses outside and while driving. The sun reflecting off snow can be blinding, and the UV rays can damage the cornea, and lead to dry eye disease.6
  • In the car, keep the heat to a minimum and direct the air vents away from your face to avoid forced air blowing at your eyes.
  • Protect your eyes from wind and blowing snow. Wear eye protection such as goggles or sunglasses while shoveling snow or using snow blowers.
Environmental conditions that affect dry eye disease

Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Dry Eyes in Winter and Year-round

As the temperatures drop, take steps to prevent dry eyes in winter. With a few simple lifestyle changes, you can keep your eyes healthy and comfortable through the cold weather of the winter months.

  • Make the change to a whole food healthy diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. To fill in the gaps in your diet, include a supplement such as CorneaCare Eye Vitamins & Minerals, a daily multivitamin for eyes, mind and body.
  • Eat foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, cod, walnuts, and flaxseed oil7, and add CorneaCare Triple Strength Omega-3 supplements.
  • Stay hydrated. It’s easy to forget to drink water, but this will irritate dry eyes, and may cause dry itchy skin and other symptoms of dehydration.
  • Remember to take regular screen breaks, and use the 20-20-20 rule. According to the American Optometric Association recommendation: “every 20 minutes, shift your eyes to look at an object at least 20 feet away, for at least 20 seconds.”8
Lifestyle Changes: balanced diet, working with the weather, taking regular breaks

Best CorneaCare Products to Ease Your Dry Eyes in Winter

  • Eyelid Hygiene is the foundation of eye health & wellness. CorneaCare Eyelid Hygiene products help you prioritize your eyecare. Our eyelid Wipes contain hyaluronic acid and tea tree oil, perfect for eye dryness, itching, burning and crusting/flaking of eyelashes.
  • You can try a warm washcloth over your eyes several times a day. Alternatively, CorneaCare Self-Heating Warm Compresses provide instant warmth plus hydrated minerals perfect for eye dryness, fatigue, tearing, puffiness of the eyelids and styes. No washcloth or microwave required!
  • Over-the-counter artificial tears may provide temporary relief, however they may contain preservatives that irritate the eyes. CorneaCare Preservative-free Artificial Tears lubricate and nourish your eyes to fend off inflammation, promote anti-oxidation and enhance hydration to optimize your visual comfort.
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When to See Your Eye Doctor

If you experience frequent dry eye symptoms, make an appointment to see an eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist) for an eye exam. An eye doctor can diagnose the cause of your pain and discomfort and recommend treatment, such as prescription eye drops or punctal plugs, which preserve your natural tears.

Your eye doctor can properly determine whether you are suffering with dry eye disease, and the type, or if your dry eyes are caused by an underlying medical condition.

Putting it All Together

Dry eyes in winter are very common thanks to dry, cold and windy weather, and dry heat indoors. Take steps to avoid excess heat and blowing air, add moisture with a humidifier at home, and implement simple lifestyle changes.

Practice good Eyelid Hygiene and try adding preservative-free artificial tears to soothe and lubricate your eyes as needed.

If these changes don’t improve your symptoms, see your eye doctor.

Want to take care of your dry eyes but not sure where to start?
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What’s Next

Learn to love your eyes! Read more eye health and wellness tips on our blog.

Bibliography

  1. Winter is Coming: Help Patients Combat Dry Eye. American Optometric Association, https://www.aoa.org/news/clinical-eye-care/diseases-and-conditions/winter-dry-eye?sso=y. Accessed 11 October 2022.
  2. Mayo Clinic. “Dry Eyes.” Mayo Clinic, 2020, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-eyes/symptoms-causes/syc-20371863. Accessed 10 October 2022.
  3. Kumar N, Feuer MS, Lanza NL, Galor AG. Seasonal Variation in Dry Eye. Ophthalmology. 2015;122(8):1727-1729, https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.ophtha.2015.02.013.
  4. van Setten G, Labetoulle M, Baudouin C, Rolando M., Evidence of Seasonality and Effects of Psychrometry in Dry Eye Disease. Acta Ophthalmol. 2016;94(5):499-506. https://doi.org/10.1111/aos.12985. Accessed 10 October 2022.
  5. Cold Weather Woes and Dry Eye. University of Alabama in Birmingham, https://www.uabmedicine.org/-/cold-weather-woes-and-dry-eyes. Accessed 10 October 2022.
  6. Why You Should Wear Sunglasses in the Winter. OOMC. https://oomc.com/why-you-should-wear-sunglasses-in-the-winter/. Accessed 11 October 2022.
  7. 16 Omega-3 Foods Your Body Needs Now. Dr. Axe, https://draxe.com/nutrition/omega-3-foods/. Accessed 11 October 2022.
  8. Computers, Digital Devices, and Eye Strain. American Association of Ophthalmology, https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/computer-usage. Accessed 11 October 2022.

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