Are your eyes itchy and dry? Is it hard to see or do you find that your eyes cause you discomfort?
Winter is here and for many people, that involves spending more time inside where the air is dry and warm.
Keep reading for 3 simple but effective tips to keep your eyes feeling and looking their best all winter long!
1. Keep Your Eyes Moist
If your eyes feel dry, an easy place to start is by adding more moisture! Chances are, if your eyes are dry, you may need to drink more water.
Drinking more water helps keep your body hydrated. If you’re well-hydrated, your eyes will see benefits as well.
Consider adding more cold-water fish to your diet. Cold-water fish like tuna, mackerel, and sardines have omega 3 fatty acids.
Omega 3 fatty acids can help improve dry eye symptoms. Other foods that can help keep your eyes healthy and strong that are easy to add to your diet include:
- Nuts and seeds like walnuts and pumpkin seeds
- Dark leafy greens that you can put in a salad like spinach and kale, and don’t forget about broccoli
- Eggs
- Citrus fruits like grapefruit, oranges, and lemons contain vitamin C which is beneficial to eyesight
Getting enough sleep is hard at times but it can make a big difference if your eyes are tired or fatigued. Aim for 7 or more hours each night.
Use eye drops if your eyes feel dry or irritated to help replace any natural moisture your eyes may have lost. Dry eye symptoms are often at their worst during the winter season.
The air is dry inside as well as outside. This makes it more of a challenge to keep your eyes hydrated.
2. Avoid Unnecessary Irritation
There are lots of things that you can do to help keep your eyes at their best all winter long.
Give your eyes a break and reduce unnecessary time wearing contacts. On the weekends, it may be better to simply wear glasses and give your eyes time to rest.
Wash your hands frequently to keep from picking up and spreading any viruses. No matter how irritated your eyes feel, don’t rub them! This will only make them feel worse!
Use a humidifier inside any room that you’re in a lot, like your living room or bedroom. This will help to put some moisture back into the air and help prevent your eyes from being itchy and dry.
If you spend a lot of time looking at a computer screen, don’t forget to blink! Your blink rate decreases when you spend time looking at screens.
Consider the 20/20/20 rule to help with eye strain. All you need to do is look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. This will help your eyes if they’ve become strained.
3. Protect Your Eyes When You’re Outside
Winter brings many outdoor activities along with lower temperatures. Combine that with cold wind and lower humidity and you have a recipe for dry eyes.
The harsh rays from the sun can create a dangerous reflective glare in the snow. Protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses if you are going to be outside for any length of time.
The UV rays from the sun are also harmful on overcast days. Even if the sun isn’t shining, that doesn’t mean UV rays aren’t causing harm to your eyes.
Wear goggles when taking part in any outdoor sports that wearing sunglasses is not possible. The goggles will both protect your eyes from the sun’s glare as well as protect them from any dirt or debris that may get into your eyes.
Concerned about how dry your eyes are even after following the above tips? Schedule an appointment at Levin Eyecare in Pikesville, MD, today!