This winter has been anything but typical. Across the South, we've seen record temperatures and snowfall in places that rarely experience it. But for many of us, it’s not just the cold weather that’s affecting our eyes. The bigger problem is the indoor heat.

Why Does Indoor Heating Make Dry Eye Worse?

When temperatures drop, we naturally turn up the heat indoors. But heaters remove moisture from the air. And this creates a dry environment causing your eyes to sting, burn, and feel irritated. If you've noticed your dry eye symptoms worsening recently, your heating system might be the culprit.

Simple Ways to Keep Your Eyes Comfortable

 The good news? You don’t have to suffer through the season. Here are a few easy ways to combat dry indoor air and keep your eyes feeling their be...

Tips to Get Dry Eye Relief This Fall 

As the temperatures cool down this fall, it’s easy to forget that your eyes need a little extra care. When the chill sets in, many of us reach for the heater to keep cozy indoors. But while that heat keeps us warm, it can also dry out the air in your home, which in turn dries out your eyes. If you find yourself spending a lot of time in a heated room, here are some tips to help keep your eyes comfortable: 

1. Redirect Warm Air 

Whether you're using a space heater or central heating, make sure the vent isn't blowing warm air directly onto your face. The constant airflow can evaporate your eye’s natural moisture, leaving them irritated. Instead, aim the vent downwards. Blowing the are toward your feet or stomach will help you stay warm without dryin...

Winter can be the driest season of the year in many locations around the world. Having your heater on indoors combined with the lack of humidity outdoors can put a strain on your eyes ability to keep up with keeping themselves moisturized.

Here are a couple of tips to give your eyes relief during the Winter season.

1. Stay Hydrated: Winter air tends to be dry, both indoors and outdoors. Ensure you stay well-hydrated by drinking an adequate amount of water throughout the day. Proper hydration supports tear production, helping to keep your eyes moist and comfortable.

   The dry eye drink, is a sugar-free supplement that can increase your hydration 2-3 times more than by drinking water alone. This is an additive that you can add to your water to keep you hyper hydrated. Check out this blog p...

I like to refer to the winter season as Dry Eye Season to my patients.  In most parts of the country, winter is the driest season. When the temperature is cold outside, the moisture comes out of the air. Then, we turn our heaters on indoors to combat those cooler temps. Now, the indoor air is dry as well.

It is important this time of year to provide your eyes with extra moisture. I like to think about hydrating my eyes in 3 ways:

1. From the inside
2. On the surface
3. From your environment

Check out these easy steps you can take to get Dry Eye Relief this Winter...

#1) Hydrate from the Inside

Make sure you are continuing to do the things that are good for your eyes and your health during the winter season.  Continuing to take your omega 3 fatty acid supplement is a great idea.  I hav...

In the clinic, I get asked this question all day long, "What's causing my eyes to be so dry?" The short answer is that dry eye is multifactorial. It comes from many different causes. Some of the things we have no control over, like your gender and your age.  Women, especially those over 40, are more likely to have dry eye than men. And, we can't change our gender or age.  But, there are a ton of causes of dry eye that we can control.   

Let's talk about what you can take care or change to help our dry eyes. I like to break this down into three parts. I called it the EYE Method.  The first is E for Eyes. The Y is for Your Health. And, the final E is for the Environment. 

This week, we will take a deep dive into how your environment helps effects your dry eyes. 

E is for the Environment

Th...

In the winter season, it's important to take care of your body so that your body takes care of your eyes.  Last week, we discussed all the ways in which winter season is the hardest on your eyes.  Taking care of you eyes is crucial so they  don't feel dry, itchy red and scratchy all season long, like some of my patients complain about.  If you winterize your self care, your eyes will be happy, and you can live your best life. So let's dive in.

Keep reading to learn how to get the best sleep and why sleep is so important this season.  Then, next week, I'll dive into how to eat what you want and control your dry eye symptoms at the same time.

SLEEP

Stick to a Sleep Schedule

It's essential during the winter season to stick to a schedule. Bedtime is just as meaningful as the time that you ...

Winter season is the driest time of the year.  So today, I'm talking about how to keep your dry eyes happy during the winter season.  Most of us are spending the winter days indoors. 

Winter is Dry Eye Season 

Outdoors the air is dry. The temperature is cold to freezing. Generally, there's not a lot of humidity. It could be windy. The days are short and there's less sunlight inside. Inside it's dry, hot with artificial heat and fire places.  Smoke and scents from candles can be very irritating to sensitive eyes.

What are the two things that you can do to help your eyes feel more moist?

#1) Perk up the Air Quality to Help Your Dry Eyes

The air quality can really irritate your eyes since you're spending lots of time in these dry environments.  Utilize a humidifier to add soothing m...