Cold weather increases risk of certain eye diseases

0

It's not just the weather that affects your eyes – central heating can lead to dry eyes.

Maintaining healthy eyes is important when it comes to preventing potentially long-term problems such as vision loss.

While conditions may be beyond our control, there are ways to reduce your risk of developing them. One expert warned that cold weather can contribute to these problems.

When it's cold outside, the air around us becomes drier. When this happens, the surface of the eye, which is mostly made up of water, loses moisture through evaporation.

This can lead to dry eyes and not enough tears to keep the eyes moist. It's important to keep our eyes and the environment moist to reduce dry eye symptoms.

Severe or persistent dry eyes can then develop into infectious diseases such as conjunctivitis or blepharitis.

What is dry eyes?

Dry eyes can cause itching, sensitivity to light, soreness and a gritty feeling. They may also appear red and watery than usual.

If symptoms persist for several weeks, your doctor may recommend seeking medical attention.

Central heating can make already dry eyes worse. Don't rub your eyes, as you risk irritating them and introducing bacteria that can cause conjunctivitis, blepharitis or styes. If possible, try to keep the room as cool as possible, and open the windows every day, even for a few minutes.

Consider buying eye drops from a pharmacy that are specifically designed to relieve any eye infections such as styes or blepharitis. If you wear contact lenses, try wearing them less often. Use a humidifier or place a bowl of water near a radiator to make the air more humid.