How Winter Affects Your Eyes

Winter brings a magical blanket of snow and crisp air, but it also brings specific challenges for your eyes and vision. Understanding how winter affects your eyes can help you take proactive steps to maintain optimal eye health during the colder months.

Dry Eyes and Irritation

One of the most common issues during the winter is dry eyes. The cold, windy weather and indoor heating systems can strip moisture from your eyes, leading to irritation, redness, and a gritty sensation. Combat this by using artificial tears or lubricating eye drops to keep your eyes hydrated. Consider using a humidifier indoors to add moisture to the air.

Snow Glare and UV Exposure

Snow-covered landscapes create a stunning scene, but they also intensify the glare from the sun. This glare, combined with the sun’s harmful UV rays, can lead to snow blindness and increase the risk of developing cataracts or other eye conditions. Wearing sunglasses with UV protection is crucial, even on cloudy days, to shield your eyes from harmful rays and reduce glare.

Winter Allergies

Winter allergies, triggered by indoor allergens like dust, pet dander, and mold, can impact your eyes. Symptoms may include itching, redness, and watery eyes. To manage winter allergies, keep your living spaces clean, use air purifiers, and regularly wash bedding and curtains. Over-the-counter antihistamine eye drops can provide relief from allergy-related eye symptoms.

Cold Wind and Eye Health

The biting cold wind in winter can be harsh on your eyes, causing them to water excessively and potentially leading to discomfort. Wearing protective eyewear or wraparound glasses can act as a barrier against the cold wind, reducing the risk of irritation and dryness.

Protect Your Eyes With Six One Six Vision Center

Winter is no excuse to neglect your vision and eye health. By being mindful of the potential issues, taking preventative measures and seeking professional care, you can ensure your eyes remain healthy throughout the season. Call Six One Six Vision Center at (208) 514-1858 or schedule an appointment online anytime.

COVID-19

To our Six One Six Vision Center Families,

Our office is fully open to serve your eye care needs. We cannot wait to see you in our office again! With the health and safety of our team and patients at the forefront of our minds, the following changes have taken place while we all do our part to fight this pandemic:

We ask that if you are experiencing a fever, shortness of breathe, or a cough that you reschedule your visit at this time.

We are asking our patients to complete as much of the typical intake paperwork and collecting of insurance information electronically to reduce the amount of team members they need to be exposed to at the office.

We have very strict cleanliness procedures for anyone who comes in to our office at every point of their visit to lower risk of potential infection.

Now more than ever, we need to take care of ourselves, our families, and our communities as best we can, while practicing safe social distancing recommendations. We will get through these difficult times together, and I promise you our office and our team will be here to support you as best we can during these changes, and will be even stronger once we can return to normal care.

Be well, stay strong, take care of each other.

– Six One Six Vision Center Team

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