Cold winter months can cause an increase of dry eye symptoms in Londonderry and Windham. With the colder temperatures come dry and itchy eyes that can often be painful and lead to blurry vision and other vision problems. While it may be hard to avoid dry eyes altogether, especially during harsh winters, there are some things you can do to minimize dry eye symptoms. Keep reading to learn how to protect your eyes this winter.
Stay Hydrated 
Dry eyes can actually be an indication that your body is mildly dehydrated. When it is cold outside, it can be easy to forget to stay hydrated. Continue to drink water throughout the day and make sure your body is getting enough fluids. This will help keep your eyes moisturized. Drinking green tea not only helps keep you hydrated, but green tea may even help keep your eyes healthy. Eating soup and other fluid rich foods can also help to keep you hydrated throughout the winter. Adding mega-3 fatty acids to your diet also increases tear production and can help keep eyes moist.
Keep Humidity in Your Home
One of the reasons that winter causes so much dryness is partially due to the lack of humidity in the air. While you cannot control the weather outside, you can take steps to increase the humidity in your home. Investing in a humidifier is a step towards eye care. This will help keep your eyes naturally lubricated.
Limit Direct Heat and Wind Exposure
When you get in your car in the winter, you likely immediately blast the heater to warm up space. Even though this is necessary to warm up your car in freezing temperatures, the forced hot air from the vents can be drying out your eyes. As an alternative, consider heating your car by using the floor vents rather than the vents in the console. When outside, wear sunglasses that can protect your eyes from harsh winds that dry out your eyes and negatively impact your eye care.