Eye Health in Winter

It gets cold and miserable here in the UK during winter, and many of us know that cold temperatures, bristling winds and adverse weather can be tough on the body. In fact, during winter, many of us are more prone to illnesses like the cold or flu because our immune system is tested more than other times of the year. In turn, your eyes can also suffer during the winter months. 

In this guide, we’re taking a look at some of the common issues your eyes face during winter and how you might be able to prevent them.

Dry and itchy eyes

During winter, the weather starts to get colder and windier. It’s common for eyes to become dry in winter when they’re exposed to these harsher weather conditions. What’s more, we often use unnatural heating to keep us warm, through the likes of central heating or heaters, which often produce dry heat. This can make dry eyes worse in winter, so we’d recommend avoiding sitting too close to these heat sources.  

You also might be wondering – why are my eyes itching in winter? That’s usually because they’re drier too. Often these symptoms come together. To combat dry and itchy eyes in winter, it’s important to stay hydrated, whether you keep drinking cold water or opt for hot water or herbal tea. If you commonly wear contact lenses, glasses themselves can in fact add an extra layer of protection against these elements, and keep your eyes from getting dry and itchy, so it could be a good idea to introduce them to your winter wardrobe over contact lenses. 

Watering eyes

Why do our eyes water in winter? It’s usually due to the cold because our eyes compensate for prolonged exposure to colder temperatures by producing tears. Although it’s common for your eyes to be watering in winter, you can again prevent this by covering your eyes with glasses or sunglasses.

Remember, when you’re wiping away tears, use a clean cloth to avoid infection. If your eyes suddenly become excessively teary, it could be a sign of infection instead, so please do seek advice from your GP or a pharmacist if you’re worried. 

Tired eyes

The days are getting shorter which means we have a lot less exposure to daylight. You may be waking up and looking in the mirror and noticing dark circles under your eyes in winter. This is common and usually nothing to worry about. As our bodies adjust to winter and less daylight, it gets harder for our bodies to wake up and energise, especially if we’re spending more time indoors and looking at screens when it’s darker out. This can even cause puffy eyes in winter as your eyes adjust to the unnatural light. 

There may be a link between tired eyes and vitamin D deficiency, so make sure to take your vitamins and get plenty of rest during the winter months. 

Want to learn more about tired eyes? Read our tips on how to relieve tired eyes.

Sore eyes and eye pain

As our eyes water more and become more dry and irritated, they might react which can cause sore eyes in winter. You may even experience bloodshot eyes in winter, as the cornea becomes inflamed after reacting to the weather and temperature. 

As we mentioned before, we think glasses can actually help to protect you from these symptoms,  as well as making sure you’re resting enough. A small amount of eye pain is not unusual but if you’re worried about prolonged pain or irritation, it’s always worth speaking to your GP, optician, or local pharmacist.

Protect your eyes and eyesight with Arlo Wolf

When it comes to protecting your eyes and eyesight this winter, choose Arlo Wolf for your eyewear. We have a range of stylish and affordable men’s prescription eyewear and women’s glasses, including an eco-friendly glasses collection. 

If you’re worried about being able to find the perfect pair of glasses online, you can try glasses online using our Try Before You Buy service, helping you to better make the right choice for you and your eyes.