Add dry eyes to the health woes of winter. Do all the ads for dry eye relief have you thinking you could have this condition? If you’ve ever felt like you had a grain of sand in your eye when nowhere close to the beach, you could be experiencing dry eye.
Exactly what is dry eye? Simply put, it’s when you aren’t making enough tears to keep the front surface of the eye lubricated, or your tears don’t have enough water in them. Eyes can feel gritty, scratchy or like they’re burning. You might even notice excess watering or blurred vision.
Tear production often lessens with age, but it can also be the result of a medical condition — not only eye diseases but also rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and thyroid problems.
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It can also be a side effect of certain medications, including antihistamines, decongestants, blood pressure medications and antidepressants. Living in a dry, windy climate or just sitting in front of a cozy fireplace in the winter can cause tears to evaporate.
“On average, the humidity drops in the winter with the colder weather [and] most people turn on the heat in their homes or offices to combat the cold,” Dr. Marissa Locy, who’s with the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s department of ophthalmology says.
“What you end up having is lower humidity outside, and even lower humidity inside — making for warm, dry conditions where moisture can evaporate from the eye faster than normal,” she explained in a university news release.
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What to do?
There’s much you can do to restore the normal amount of tears, according to the American Optometric Association, starting with over-the-counter artificial tear solutions, or prescription eye drops or ointments. See your eye professional to discuss the options and find out what’s most appropriate for you.
Locy suggests several steps to protect your eyes from becoming dry:
- Use a humidifier to help restore humidity to the air and moisture to the eyes.
- Drink lots of fluids to keep your body hydrated and maintain moisture in your eyes.
- Protect your eyes from extreme cold and wind. That can include eye protection or a hat with a visor.
- Don’t let heat blow directly onto your face. Doing so can dry up moisture in your eyes. Turn your car vents toward your lower body to avoid this problem.
During cold weather, your eyes can dry out even more if you wear contacts. So, Locy says, be sure you always wear clean contacts to reduce itching and possible infection.
Lifestyle changes can also help. Try getting more omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. Treat your eyes to warm compresses and massage your eyelids. Blink regularly when reading or working at a computer for long periods of time.
Also, increase the humidity in the air at work and at home, wear sunglasses to shield eyes outdoors, and drink eight to 10 glasses of water each day to stay hydrated.
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When to see a doctor
Dry eye can sometimes progress to dry eye disease. See your doctor if you’re concerned.
Dry eye cannot be cured, Locy says, but symptoms can be relieved by using eye drops, ointments or medication, or by plugging some tear ducts to slow the drainage of tears from the eye’s surface.
