Dry Eyes and Cold Weather Dry Eyes and Cold Weather | Riverside Eye Centers Our Doctors
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Dry Eyes and Cold Weather

Do your eyes ache or hurt during the winter months?  Are they tearing a lot or red?  Does it feel like something is in your eye and it won’t stop?  Do you sometimes blink a lot to clear the blurriness?  These are common complaints and symptoms of someone suffering from dry eye.

Living in the Midwest, we get to experience some ridiculously cold temperatures and because of that, the humidity level in the air is way down.  Bone dry air blowing in your face causes marginally dry eyes to become much more dry and symptoms develop.  What can you do to protect your eyes?

  • Wear glasses or goggles, especially if wind is an issue or if you’ll be outside awhile.
  • Blink more often.  This will help coat your eyes with new tears.
  • Use artificial tears (lubricating drops) regularly.  Bottled tears such as Systane, Optive, and Blink are available everywhere.  If using them more than four times per day, get the preservative free version.  It costs more but will be easier on your cornea.
  • Warm compresses help the oil secreting glands in your eyelids to work better.  Oily tears coat better and do not evaporate.  Heating the lids will allow better flow onto the cornea and improve your “tear quality”.

If symptoms of redness, irritation, and dryness persist and are not relieved by artificial tears, you may have a more serious condition that requires an exam and treatment by your eye doctor.  We will often “ramp up” treatment to obtain relief.  Call us if you would like an appointment.

Dry eyes can be very annoying but solutions are available.  Don’t miss out on winter activities due to this annoying but treatable problem!

Request an Appointment

East China Office

First building north of St. John River District Hospital 4050 River Road, East China, MI 48054
PH: (810) 329-9045
FAX: (810) 329-8732
Optical: (810) 329-5953

Fort Gratiot Office

Located 1/4 mile north of Birchwood Mall
4656 24th Avenue, Fort Gratiot, MI 48059
PH: (810) 385-3600
FAX: (810) 385-0603
Optical: (810) 385-7200

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