Every winter, millions of Canadians experience irritated, itchy, and sore eyes from the all of the exposure to cold winter air and the intensely dry indoor air from heating our homes. With the combination of these extreme conditions, it places a great deal of strain on our eyes, which is why it’s imperative to take good care of them, especially during this time of the year.

To keep your eyes healthy and protected, read on as we outline how you can take care of your eyes this winter with these 5 simple tips.

Purchase Eye Drops

For starters, avoid going out in the cold without having lubricating eye drops on hand. The drops will quickly work to restore the moisture that is stripped from your eyes during the winter. This will also help reduce any painful itching and redness associated with the bitter chilly air.

Wear Eyeglasses

Frigid winds can cause excessive tearing and strain on your eyes, which reduces the quality of your vision, making your eyes feel blurry. So when you head outside, don’t forget to protect yourself by wearing your eyeglasses to shield them from the winds and any flying debris.

Do Not Force Your Eyes Open

When you’re out in freezing weather conditions and your eyes begin to burn, don’t force them open. Exposing your eyes to sub-zero temperatures can actually damage your cornea, resulting in sensitivity to light and eye spasms. Whenever you start to experience any strong burning sensations, immediately retreat indoors and contact your eye doctor.

Get A Humidifier

During the winter when you heat your home consistently, it’s common to experience lower humidity levels that cause irritated and painful dry eyes. To take better care of your eyes when indoors, try sitting away from the heating vents, clearing away any dust and purchase a dehumidifier to add more moisture back into the air.

Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is as important during the winter as it is in the summer. Just by increasing your liquid intake of water you can help to keep your eyes more lubricated during the dry winter environment. Ensure you drink the recommended 8-10 glasses of water every day to help give your eyes relief and produce the tears necessary to keep the eyes moist.

Avoid UV Light

UV light reflects and glares more easily off of snow and icy surfaces, risking damage to your vision. Prolonged exposure can even cause inflammation of the cornea and the development of cataracts. So when outdoors wear sunglasses with a minimum UV 400 protection to safeguard your eyes from the damaging UVA and UVB light, and limit your time outdoors on bright and sunny days. If one thing is certain, it’s that you need to take proper care of your eyes during the winter. You can start today by wearing your eyeglasses and sunglasses outside to protect your eyes from the harsh, frigid air, wind and UV rays. Talk to us at Laurier Optical about all the best brands and eye care options for you.