30 Aug TAKING CARE OF YOUR EYES THIS WINTER
Winter is fast approaching and with it come the dry and itchy eyes. Take care of your eyes this winter with these easy tips and steer clear of dry eyes.
MOISTEN YOUR EYES
Now that the weather is cooling down and we’re turning our furnaces to an all time high, low humidity levels inside your home or office can cause your eyes to suffer from dryness.
To make sure you keep your eyes and body hydrated here are some tips:
USE A HUMIDIFIER IN YOUR HOME OR OFFICE
Humidifiers emit water into the air to increase the moisture levels or humidity in the space of choice, home or office. When the heating system is used in your office or home, the humidity levels decrease to 10 percent, however your skin and body need a level of 30 to 40 percent to stay healthy and comfortable. By using a humidifier, you are not only alleviating dry eyes, but you are also helping decrease symptoms of eczema, itchy skin, dry nasal passages, cracked lips and nosebleeds due to dry air; in addition, allergies and asthma symptoms can be relieved.
MAKE SURE TO DRINK EXTRA FLUIDS
With the humidity levels in your home or office being low, as well as dry temperatures outdoors, your body is prone to suffer dehydrations if the proper amount of liquids aren’t consumed. When the body is going through dehydration it tries to conserve as much water as it can, therefore it stops the eyes from producing tears. Dry eyes can cause eyestrain, vision problems and pain, as tears are necessary to provide the eyes with proper nourishment. In addition, tears allow for the eyes to stay free from foreign matter that can irritate or harm them.
To decrease your chances of suffering from dry eyes make sure you rehydrate your body by increasing your consumption of liquids, specially water, and decrease your intake of sodium, alcohol, caffeine and high-protein foods.
LUBRICATE YOUR EYES WITH ARTIFICIAL TEARS
Artificial tears help you lubricate, clean, and maintain your eyes hydrated, providing a short-term solution to dry eyes.
SHIELD YOUR EYES
There are two very important reasons to why you should shield your eyes in the winter months:
GUARD YOUR EYES FROM UV LIGHT REFLECTION
The sun’s reflection on the ice or snow can harm your eyes as the UV light reflection can cause keratitis, the inflammation of the cornea. To protect your eyes from the harmful UV rays, the best solution is to make sure you wear sunglasses when you are out.
MINIMIZE THE WIND CHILL FACTOR
During extremely cold weather, your cornea can freeze and cause blurry vision, sensitivity to light and eyelid spasms. To guard your eyes from the extreme cold and windy weather; and protect your eyes from the “Wind Chill Factor,” make sure you wear sunglasses when venturing outdoors.
By wearing sunglasses, you can help your eyes retain their moisture by preventing tear evaporation and minimize the air-drying effect on your eyes, also known as the “Wind Chill Factor.”
DON’T RUB YOUR EYES
Most often, when we experience discomfort we tend to rub our eyes. However, this can cause red swollen eyes, due to constricted blood vessels in tissues around the eyes; or blurry vision. Instead of rubbing your eyes, apply artificial tears that will moisten your eyes.
If the pain, dryness or discomfort persists, visit us at one of our two locations:
1655 Dufferin Street, Toronto, ON
2100 Finch Street West, North York, ON
