Protecting your eyes during these frigid winter months is just as important as wearing the right winter duds outside!
Read on to learn how cold weather can affect your eyes and what steps you can take to protect yourself and your family.
Effects of Dry Heat
We know the goal every winter is to stay warm, especially when the temperature hits -30. The drawback? Indoor heat and forced air from car vents can dry out your eyes just as it can your skin.
Give these tips a try this Winter:
Try using a humidifier!
If you are a contact lens wearer, you may experience some discomfort caused by dryness; therefore, consult your optometrist for a recommended artificial tear that is safe to use with contact lenses. You can also discuss switching to a different material or even daily lenses could also alleviate winter dryness.
Snow = Reflective UV
As an optometric practice, it is our mission to educate our patients, including the importance of UV protection. We often hear, “I wear sunglasses during summer”, but snow is extremely reflective. Winter UV can be more dangerous than summer UV – let’s not forget that our winters (sadly) tend to be much longer than summer!
How can you protect yourself from UV?
It is important to always wear sunglasses that offer 100% of UV rays. Check the label to make sure!
Hats are great; however, you are still at risk against harmful glares reflecting off of the ground, especially with snow we will receive this winter!
Keep Your Eyes Safe
Winter sports and outdoor activities are great for staying active and making the best of the season. It is important to always protect your eyes against sun, snow and debris while doing so!
You may be asked about sports and other activities that you are involved in during your eye exam. Our optometrists want to ensure that you are protecting your eyes and reaching your full potential based on each individual's lifestyle.
Contact lenses are a great option for sports and activities. You can avoid glasses falling off or breaking, lenses fogging up, or struggling to fit glasses under your snow goggles.
Contact lenses also give you the option of wearing sunglasses without a prescription - saving you money!
Contact our office to book an appointment with your optometrist any time! Your optometrist can recommend an artificial tear or contact lens that is best for you.
Visit our frame gallery and let one of our stylish and knowledgeable frame stylists find the perfect sunglass for you and your lifestyle!
Original Article from Cooper Vision