Make Eyecare A Top Priority During the Winter Months

Winter is here, and if you are like most people, you are doing everything you can to stay warm and protect yourself from the frigid temperatures. While it is important to protect yourself from the winter weather, the eye team here at Lock Family Eye Care wants to remind people that they should protect their eyes too. Our optometrist in West Des Moines wants people to understand that there are a number of things that can affect the comfort and function during the winter months. Here is some information about the most common cause of eye irritation during the winter, and how you can protect your eyes.

Common Winter Eye Irritants

Most people understand that cold air is pretty rough on the eyes, however, the warm air produced by furnaces and other heating units is just as bad. Indoor air not only dries out the eyes, but the air from heating elements is also filled with bacteria. Your eyes lose their moisture when the air is cold and brisk outside. This can cause eye injuries such as abrasions. People tend to think that they don’t need to be as vigilant about protecting their eyes from UV radiation during the winter months as they are during the warmer months of the year. The truth is your eyes are can be overexposed to UV radiation due to the reflection produced by snow-covered surfaces.

Eye Care Tips to Help You Protect Your Eyes

One of the easiest things you can do to protect your eyes during the winter is blinking excessively. It might seem like a strange thing to do, but blinking more will often help keep your eyes lubricated and prevent them from drying out. Using humidifiers throughout your home will keep moisture in the air, and help you avoid the symptoms associated with dry eye. Eye hygiene is an aspect of eye care that very few people practice, but they should. You cleanse every other part of your body, so your eyes should not be any different. Finally, you should remember to keep your hands away from your eyes. When your eyes are feeling dry and irritated it can be tempting to rub them. Rubbing your dry eyes can not only lead to eye injury, but it can also cause eye infections as well.

We Are Here to Help

Our optometrist in West Des Moines wants you to be aware of all the things you need to do taking care of your eyes during the winter. Our friendly team of eye care professionals is here to help you and your family members keep their eyes winter-ready. To learn more about how you can further protect your eyes, give our office a call at 515-207-7844.