As the weather becomes colder, the air is dryer. As the temperature drops, we all switch on the central heating and close all the windows – it’s important to stay warm when it’s cold outside! Unfortunately, that also means you’re going to dry out the air in your house and your eyes too. This can cause your eyes to become dry, itchy, and uncomfortable.
As we hermetically seal ourselves inside our homes to stay warm inside, we also become susceptible to dust mites and pet dander, which can also exasperate our symptoms of itchy, irritated eyes. When your eyes are dry due to these temporary factors, they should feel better when you change your environment. Just a few self-help measures can prevent the autumn and winter months from taking their toll on your eyes.
While symptoms of dryness and irritation are quite common in the colder months, if you experience severe discomfort, make an appointment with your doctor to rule out any other underlying conditions. But if your eyes still feel dry or your symptoms persist without going away, that might be a sign that you could have dry eye syndrome. These symptoms can worsen and cause permanent damage to your vision if left untreated. If you’re feeling more like this CG Optical can help. If your eyes ever feel sore, dry, itchy or watery then you could suffer from a number of dry eye conditions. Sometimes people have been living in discomfort for years, not knowing there is a simple solution on their doorstep. Our dry eye clinician, Becky uses the latest equipment to treat this common condition quickly and painlessly onsite.
Through our three-step process, Becky can diagnose your condition and develop a bespoke treatment plan all from the comfort of our practice in Stratford-upon-Avon. IDRA Dry Eye Analysis takes 60 minutes and costs £90.
Autumn brings other risks, too.
In the midst of summer, the sun spends more time high up in the sky, away from your direct line of vision. But now that Autumn’s here and the days are getting shorter, the low, afternoon sun (when it’s out!) is hard to avoid (it’s a big problem for drivers). Even on cloudy days it’s essential to protect your eyes and help lessen your chances of developing cataracts and macular degeneration with a pair of good quality UV sunglasses.
Finally, a reminder to take screen breaks when working at your computer.
Too much time in front of a computer screen or any digital device could be damaging your eyes and increasing your risk of developing dry eyes? With the evenings getting darker, your eyes will rely more on unnatural, bright office type lighting. So, remember to take regular screen breaks to give your eyes a rest.
