Dry Eyes In Winters: Causes And Prevention Tips

Do you experience dry eyes during the winter season? It is a common problem experienced by many people, however, it can be usually treated at home. Read on to find causes and prevention tips.

Causes Of Dry Eyes

Dry eyes can be caused by various reasons throughout the year. However, some of them are specific to the winter season. That is why it is a more common condition in winter months.

The causes could be low humidity, cold temperatures, and winds. It can also be caused by indoor heating, which occurs when people use their heater more often during the colder months.

Symptoms Of Dry Eyes

Dry eyes can cause eyes to feel scratchy, itchy, red, gritty, sore, blurry, or sensitive to light.

Precautions

To avoid dry eyes in the winter, follow these precautionary tips:

• Eat more omega-3 fatty acids in your diet to help with dry eye symptoms.
• When you're outside, put on a pair of wrap-around glasses or sunglasses to protect your eyes from the wind, which is a common cause of dry eyes in winter.
• Avoid using hair dryers, especially if they are blowing air directly into your eyes. Instead, let your hair air dry.
• Reduce the use of heaters as using them more often can cause dry eyes.
• People should blink regularly to ensure that their tears are sufficiently lubricating their eyes.
• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. It will help prevent dry eyes.
• Use artificial tears or eye drops to keep your eyes moistened. Try to apply it up to six times throughout the day. But be sure to carefully read the label: If the drops include preservatives, using them more frequently could irritate your eyes.

Treatment

Usually, dry eyes are not a cause for concern. Dry eye conditions can be treated at home and prevented with simple preventive measures. But if the issue doesn't get better, you should consider seeking medical help to make sure there’s not an underlying cause.

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