Winter Eye Safety: How to Protect the Eyes and Prevent The Occurrence of Eye Conditions Related to The Sun, The wind, and Winter Sports Activities
During winter, there are different causes that can irritate the eyes to the point of injury. The common eye injuries include burning, dry, or itchy eyes, redness, light sensitivity, eye fatigue, the sensation of having an object in your eye, discomfort wearing contact lenses, and/or the appearance of eye mucus. Those causes are related to the sun, the wind, low temperatures, humidity, mobility, and winter sports and recreational activities. Often times patients think it is only winter sports enthusiasts who are at risk of getting eye injuries. However, everyone who leaves his home in the morning and returns later during the day is at risk of getting his eyes irritated or injured by one or many of those causes.
The Sun: We wear sunglasses during summer but we often forget that if we want to protect our eyes from Ultra Violet (UV) radiation we need to wear sunglasses all year long. Anyone who lives or works in a snowy climate should take extra precautions and wear appropriate sunglasses with 100% UV protection. Not protecting our eyes from UV can lead to snow blindness, a manifestation of photokeratitis that is a painful eye ailment brought on by being exposed to UV rays reflected off of snow and ice. As extreme cold and dryness can exacerbate the condition, the risk is particularly significant at high elevations. Snow blindness can go undetected until your eyes are already damaged, much like sunburns can. The symptoms of snow blindness can be quite uncomfortable and scary. Snow blindness can cause discomfort, hazy vision, puffiness, and wet eyes, among other symptoms. Wearing 100% UV protective sunglasses will help protect your eyes from UV radiation.
The wind, low temperatures, and humidity: Few people are aware that cold weather damages the skin and the eyes and causes havoc on the skin and hair, making it dry, flaky, and brittle. Yet regular winter weather’s lower humidity levels can have an adverse effect on eyes, frequently making them red and irritated. When furnaces and wood heating appliances are used indoors during the winter, the air is also dryer. A humidifier should be used at home, and those who suffer from this are recommended to drink plenty of water. People should run humidifiers to reintroduce moisture in the air to reduce dry air as well as use lubricating eye drops to hydrate the eyes, especially while wearing contact lenses.
Too much tearing is the exact opposite of dry eyes for some people. There are several reasons for this. You can be allergic to conifer pollen if you reside in a region with many of these trees. However, excessive tearing may simply be your eyes’ way of defending themselves against irritants like the wind. When you are outside, use a nice pair of shades to protect your eyes as much as you can.
Mobility: Snow and ice on the ground, as well as the increasing usage of artificial lighting in homes and workplaces, can all contribute to light sensitivity. You should safeguard your eyes by donning a pair of UV-protective sunglasses because you’ll be exposed to two times as many UV rays because of how the snow reflects them. Mobility is very important for everyone to be able to visit his optometrist and discuss winter eye safety issues. Not being able to access eye care by visiting the eye doctor increases the risk of having eye irritations and light-sensitive (photophobic) eyes growing into serious injuries. It is very important to consult with the eye doctor, moreover, using telehealth and telemedicine to consult with the eye doctor when an appointment and a face-to-face meeting is not possible.
Winter Sports: problems can occur in different winter sports. Stick pokes, flying pucks, and skates to the face can all permanently impair vision. Fortunately, using protective eyewear can help athletes at all levels, from youth teams to the National Hockey League (NHL), reduce their risk.