Does Cold Weather Affect My Eyes?

Now that winter is upon us, as we live in the colder parts of the U.S, we spend a good amount of the time indoors in heated, dry environments. When we do head out into the cold, most of us remember to protect our hands, and feet,  but often forget to protect our eyes. It is during this time of year when most of us experience more symptoms of dry, red, itchy and watery eyes.


The combined environment of cold and hot dry conditions can become a trigger for more dryness symptoms because our tears evaporate faster in dry environments. This is what can cause our eyes to feel gritty, dry, red and irritated.


There are essentially two major types of dry eye, one where there is low tear (also called aqueous) production, or when the tear quality is poor and the tears evaporate too quickly due to not enough oily secretion from the meibomian glands found in our eyelids. When we blink, our lids pull our tears evenly over the surface of our eye which keeps our cornea smooth, healthy and clear. The process of blinking is an important step for us to have clear, comfortable vision and healthy eyes. The most common form of dry eyes occurs when the smooth oil layer is inadequate. This condition is found called Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.


Cold weather and the wind can be very drying to your eyes. During the winter months, most homes and offices have lower humidity levels due to radiant heat and closed windows. In this case, our eyes are often unable to express enough tears and oil naturally to maintain comfort and visual clarity in door or outdoor.


People with dry eyes may experience irritated, gritty, scratchy or burning eyes; a feeling of something in their eyes; excess watering; and blurred vision. Advanced dry eyes may damage the front surface of the eye and impair vision.


Dry eye disease can be diagnosed through a thorough comprehensive eye examination. Dr. Clare Tao will dive into a detailed history to determine the patient's symptoms and triggers,  note general health problems, medications or life style and environmental factors that may be contributing to your dry eye problem. She will examine your eye lid structure and blink dynamics, evaluate your cornea and tear film in magnification for any abnormalities with specific tests.


Based on the exam results, Dr. Clare Tao will provide you a holistic treatment which might include prescription eye drops, in-office treatments, behavior/lifestyle advice and particular at-home therapies.


Her dedication and expertise in treating dry eye has helped many chronic dry eye patients and improved their quality of life.