- Good Sleep Can Make You Feel Young
- U.S. Mpox Cases Rising Again as Vaccinations Lag
- Binge Drinking Boosts Heart Risks, Especially for Women
- Too Often, Nearby Defibrillators Go Unused on People in Cardiac Arrest
- Stressed? Some Genes Could Raise Your Heart Attack Risk
- Puerto Rico Declares Dengue Epidemic as Cases Climb
- Hormonal Meds for Birth Control, Menopause Linked to Brain Tumors
- These 3 Factors Make Your Brain More Vulnerable to Dementia
- High Rate of Suicidal Thoughts Among Black Men in Rural America: Study
- Just 30 Minutes Less Sitting Time Per Day Cuts Seniors’ High Blood Pressure
Winter’s Many Challenges to Eye Health
Dry, itchy eyes are a common problem in the winter and low humidity is a major reason, one ophthalmologist says.
“On average, the humidity drops in the winter with the colder weather,” said Marissa Locy, an instructor in the department of ophthalmology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
“In addition, most people turn on the heat in their homes or offices to combat the cold. So, what you end up having is lower humidity outside, and even lower humidity inside, making for warm, dry conditions where moisture can evaporate from the eye faster than normal,” she explained in a university news release.
If you spend time in heated locations, use a humidifier to add some moisture back into the air. Drink lots of fluids. Keeping your body hydrated will help maintain moisture in your eyes.
Don’t blow heat directly onto your face, because this can dry up moisture in your eyes. In your car, direct heat vents towards your lower body.
When outdoors, wear eye protection or a hat with a visor to keep particles and wind from getting into your eyes.
If you wear contact lenses, be sure to keep them clean. In cold weather, your eyes could dry even more with contacts. Always wearing clean contacts reduces the risk of infection and itching, Locy said.
And talk to your doctor. Occasional bouts of dry eyes can eventually progress into dry eye disease.
More information
The U.S. National Eye Institute has more on dry eye.
Source: HealthDay
Copyright © 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.