How to Protect Your Eyes This Winter

Posted on November 20, 2023 in Vision Health

Ready or not, winter has arrived, bringing freezing temperatures to the Midwest. And, while we are usually most concerned about covering our skin during this time, it’s the cold weather can take a toll on your eye health, too. Think about the drying effects of indoor heating or the intense glare of sunlight on snow—your eyes encounter some seasonal challenges during this time. 

By taking the right precautions, you can protect your eyes and avoid winter-related discomfort.

Ways to protect your eyes during the winter

Wear sunglasses 

You might only think about wearing sunglasses in warm weather, but they’re equally important in the winter. Snow is known to reflect the sun’s brightness, making it hard to see. "Snow can reflect as much as 80% of UV radiation,” according to the World Health Organization. Too much exposure to UV rays in the winter can lead to cataracts, blindness, or cancer. Take preventive measures to protect your eyes if you have plans to be outside.

Wearing sunglasses will help decrease glare from the snow and limit UV exposure, even when it's cloudy. The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends choosing sunglasses that block out 100% of both UV-A and UV-B radiation and screen out 75-90% of visible light for adequate protection.

Use eye drops

Tears help keep our eyes moist and healthy. During the winter, cold temperatures and low humidity levels may cause your eyes to feel dry. Without moisture in your eyes, you may experience uncomfortable symptoms like gritty and/or burning sensations, redness, light sensitivity, or itchiness.

Artificial tear eye drops can help replenish moisture and protect your eyes from symptoms of dryness. You can find these eye drops at most drugstores without a prescription. If you continue to experience dry eyes after using moisturizing eye drops, reach out to your eye doctor.

Keep contacts moist 

Due to colder and drier conditions, people with contact lenses should also be aware of dry eyes. Dry lenses can affect comfort and your ability to see clearly.

If you wear contacts, the AOA recommends keeping the air around you moist with humidifiers or using rewetting drops to keep the lenses from drying out too fast. 

Wash your hands often

Winter months are known for having a higher risk of catching a virus, including conjunctivitis, which is more commonly known as pink eye. The reason for the higher risk? Conjunctivitis is usually caused by viruses coming in contact with your eyes, such as the cold, flu, or COVID-19.

To lower your risk, avoid touching high-contact places such as doorknobs, wash your hands frequently, and limit touching your eyes to keep germs away.

Protect your eyes all year long

While winter may pose certain challenges when it comes to eye health, your eyes and vision need to be protected year-round. With simple changes to your eye care routine, you can ensure that your eyes look and feel healthy no matter what temperature it is outside.

Delta Dental of Iowa can help you protect your eyes with DeltaVision® coverage. Interested in learning more? Visit our website.